Politics latest: 'eye-popping' climate target announced by Starmer - as his former aide turns down new job

By means of Tom Clarkeeditor of science and technology

The arrival of Sir Keir Starmer at COP29 with a pledge to dramatically reduce Britain’s carbon emissions will be a small ray of sunshine in an otherwise bleak start to climate talks.

The election of Donald Trump, who has pledged to pull the world’s largest economy out of negotiations, was a colossal setback for a round of talks aimed at increasing ambition – and money – for the fossil fuel transition.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, Sir Keir was one of the few G20 leaders to actually appear at the talks. Joe Biden is absent, as are the leaders of China, Brazil, Germany and France.

A political risk

The UK’s commitment to cutting emissions will be seen as a statement that it is possible to be a leading economy and move away from fossil fuels. This reinforces the message these conversations are urgently trying to convey: that net zero is an opportunity for growth, not economic suicide.

But it is a political risk. Reducing emissions by 81% within ten years will require a huge and costly effort in the short term.

Labour’s plans for carbon-free electricity, which are already ambitious, will not get us there alone. Making homes more energy efficient and heating them without gas will be essential. This also applies to inconvenient matters such as protecting peatlands, highlands and reforming agriculture.

In the corridors of this summit, Sir Keir’s gamble will be celebrated.

At home, the reactions may be less enthusiastic.