Latest politics: Starmer insists he ‘won’t tell people how to live’ to meet ambitious new climate target

“No national security without climate security,” the prime minister says as he announces a new emissions target

The prime minister opens his press conference at the COP29 summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, saying “the world is at a critical juncture in the climate crisis.”

Sir Keir Starmer says the UK “not only has a critical role to play, but an opportunity to seize”.

Addressing the crisis “will make us safer here and now,” he argues, and points to various effects of climate change, such as flooding.

“This is the path to the national security, energy independence and economic stability needed to raise working people’s living standards,” says Sir Keir.

“There is no national security, there is no economic security, there is no global security without climate security.”

PM targets 2035 for emissions target

The Prime Minister says there is a “huge opportunity” for the UK to “lead the world in tomorrow’s economy”, which will mean better jobs and economic growth in the UK.

He points to the immediate and long-term emissions reduction efforts his government has already undertaken, such as dropping a ban on onshore wind, pledging not to issue new oil and gas licenses and ensuring investment in things like technology carbon capture. .

Sir Keir then announces that the UK is committing to a new target of cutting emissions by 81% by 2035 from 1990 levels.

The UK government, he says, is “delivering on its promise of good jobs, cheaper bills and higher growth” and showed at this summit that it is “back as a global leader”.