The Mirror’s Environment Editor Nada Farhoud has said previous UK governments have left us off track to meet our current emission targets so if Starmer is serious, his team needs to move faster
Despite the shadow cast over this summit by a second Trump term in the White House and while many major world leaders are missing, Keir Starmer chose to step up.
His attendance is an important signal to the world that climate matters and the UK is ready to up the baton on leadership – woefully missing from this Cop. The emission reduction target was essential to show that we are getting our house in order before lecturing others on their lack of action.
Previous UK governments have left us off track to meet our current emission targets so if Starmer is serious, his team needs to move faster to tackle the root cause of emissions: ending our reliance on fossil fuels. The retirement of the UK’s last coal-fired power plant was a remarkable milestone but it must outline how the UK will deliver a full phase-out of oil and gas. This must also include proper funding to help workers transition from high-carbon jobs to the green industries of the future.
Britain’s millions of leaky homes – the draughtiest and least energy-efficient in western Europe – make the climate crisis worse. Rolling out the promised Warm Homes Plan through insulation upgrades to some of the poorest neighbours will help cut emissions and also help households have to make the impossible decision between eating and heating.
Climate action isn’t just good for the planet, it will benefit the UK through new jobs as a part of a green transition to more renewable sources of energy. It will also mean cheaper energy bills, better public transport and cleaner air reducing the numbers suffering from respiratory problems – in turn reducing hospital admissions and GP appointments.
We all have our part to play too. It is wrong for Starmer to say that we can achieve this target without anyone having to change how they live their lives.
Using public transport, reducing our meat and dairy consumption and insulating our homes thoroughly will all make a difference.
More grants are needed to help us make the transition to using heat pumps and solar panels to heat our homes. More EV charging points are also desperately needed to encourage new ownership of electric cars.
As our planet reels from catastrophic floods in Spain and bakes in what is likely to be the hottest year on record and other extreme weather battering all parts of the world with just 1.3°C of warming, the reality of climate change could not be starker. My plea to Starmer – let this be the starting point, not the finish line. There is too much at risk.
