PM remarks at COP29: 12 November 2024
Prime Minister Keir Starmer's remarks at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

I am here at COP this week鈥�
Because this government recognises that the world stands at a critical juncture in the climate crisis.聽
And the United Kingdom not only has a critical role to play鈥�
But also, an opportunity to grasp鈥β�
The chance to maximise opportunities for Britain鈥β�
And make us more secure in the here and now.聽聽
The way I see it, there are two paths ahead:
One, the path of inaction and delay鈥�
Leading to further decline and vulnerability 鈥撀�
Warming above 1.5 degrees will expose hundreds of thousands more people in the UK to flood risk鈥�
greater economic instability鈥�
And national insecurity.聽
Or second, the path we walk, eyes wide open鈥�
not just to the challenges of today鈥�.
But also fixed firmly on the opportunities of tomorrow.聽
This is the path towards national security.
Energy independence.聽
And the economic stability necessary to boost living standards for working people.聽聽
Let me be clear.聽
There is no national security鈥�
There is no economic security鈥�
There is no global security鈥�
Without climate security.聽
And this is a huge opportunity鈥�.
For investment鈥�
For UK businesses鈥�
For British workers鈥�
If we act now - to lead the world in the economy of tomorrow.聽
This is how we move towards better jobs鈥�
cheaper bills鈥�
higher growth鈥�
the industries and technologies of the future鈥�.聽
And ensure the prosperity and security of our nation for decades to come.聽
And the prosperity and security of our nation are the issues the British people care about.聽
And that is why, from the beginning, this government has done things differently.聽
Restoring our role as a climate leader on the world stage鈥�
As well as taking action at home.
In the first 100 days of this government鈥�.
We scrapped the ban on onshore wind.
We committed to no new North Sea oil and gas licenses.聽
Began to renew those North Sea communities鈥�
with a programme of investment in the jobs and industries of the future.聽
We closed the UK鈥檚 final coal power plant at the end of September 鈥�
Becoming the very first G7 economy to phase out coal power.聽
And at the same time 鈥� we are on a mission to achieve clean power by 2030.
We launched Great British Energy 鈥撀�
A clean British Energy company鈥β�
To improve our energy resilience
Bring down people鈥檚 bills鈥�
And create the next generation of good, well-paid jobs.聽
We set up the National Wealth Fund 鈥撀�
To invest in tomorrow鈥檚 key industries.
To build the infrastructure 鈥� the wind farms, solar farms, the grid infrastructure鈥�
To power and connect our country for decades to come.聽
Because make no mistake - the race is on for the clean energy jobs of the future鈥�.
The economy of tomorrow 鈥�
And I don鈥檛 want to be in middle of the pack鈥β�
I want to get ahead of the game.聽
Whether that鈥檚 with carbon capture 鈥� in Teesside and Merseyside.聽聽
Where last month, I announced funding for Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage projects鈥�
That will create 4,000 new jobs - using the skills of oil and gas communities 鈥�
As we accelerate towards Net Zero.
Or green hydrogen 鈥撀�
With investment announced in last month鈥檚 Budget鈥�
For 11 green hydrogen projects across Britain鈥�
from Bridgend to Barrow in Furness.
This is good news for the people of Britain.聽
It鈥檚 good for our businesses.
It鈥檚 good for our country.
And it鈥檚 good for the planet.聽
So at this COP I was pleased to announce that we are building on our reputation as a climate leader鈥�
With the UK鈥檚 2035 NDC target 鈥撀�
To reduce all greenhouse gas emissions by at least 81% on 1990 levels.
Our goal of 1.5C鈥�
Is aligned with our goals for growth.聽
But a global problem also requires global partnership.
Responsible international co-operation.聽
Which is why we took the opportunity at this COP to again urge all Parties 鈥�
To come forward with ambitious targets of their own.
As we all agreed at the last COP.
And through the NDC partnership, we are supporting developing countries to develop their own commitments.聽
We will also soon be launching the Global Clean Power Alliance.
A political alliance of countries committed to accelerating the clean energy transition鈥�
Including unlocking the private finances that are needed.
That is why I was pleased to announce Scottish Power has awarded a 拢1 billion windfarm turbine contract to Siemens Gamesa鈥�
Part of their 拢24 billion investment plan to support British pioneering energy projects鈥�
Which will inject growth into our industrial heartlands鈥�
And support 1,300 local jobs around Hull鈥�
And produce enough clean energy to power 1 million homes.聽
As well as the Clean Industry Bonus Scheme 鈥撀�
To support offshore wind developers鈥�
Invest in cutting-edge manufacturing and ports鈥�
boost green jobs鈥�
and strengthen supply chains.聽
And the launch of the new CIF Capital Market Mechanism鈥�
On the London Stock Exchange.
A joint effort announced today with our international partners and the City of London鈥�
With the potential to mobilise up to 75 billion dollars鈥�
in additional climate capital for developing countries over the next decade.
And cementing London as the world鈥檚 leading green global financial centre鈥�
Showing that Britain is open for business鈥�
And back as a global leader.聽聽
This COP, the UK has sent a clear message.聽
We are delivering on our promise for good jobs, cheaper bills, and higher growth.聽
We are backing UK energy and security on the world stage.
We are a key partner for countries, for investors and for businesses鈥�
And we are renewing UK climate leadership鈥�.
To deliver for Britain.
My mission is to make sure our country鈥�
and our children鈥�
have the prosperity鈥�
the security and the stability鈥�
that they deserve for generations to come.聽
With this government, the UK will lead the way鈥�
And lead Britain and the world鈥�
into a cleaner, safer, a more prosperous future for all.聽聽
Thank you very much.