Climate

Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreKeir Starmer arrived at Cop29 aiming to fill the leadership gap at the UN climate summit with an ambitious emissions reduction target. But campaigners say the real test for the UK’s climate leadership still lies ahead – especially in its support for climate finance.Arriving at Baku on Tuesday morning, the prime minister told reporters there’s global race for clean energy and he wants UK to “to win the race”. “We’re building on our reputation as a climate leader,” Sir Keir said at a press conference. His presence at the 29th UN climate talks, also known as Cop29, was a much welcomed one. The summit’s start has been overshadowed by the return of Donald Trump to the White House. On top of it, a number of heads of states, from Germany to Canada, have snubbed this year’s conference. Almost 100 leaders landed in Baku out of over 200 countries participating, and only two from G7, for a conference where the role of rich countries is more important than ever. So naturally, all eyes were on the UK when Sir Keir arrived with a big promise of climate leadership. At the leader’s address, he announced that the UK will aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 81 per cent on 1990 levels by 2035, raising the ambition from the previous 78 per cent reduction target set in 2021. The new target is in line with the recommendation made by the government’s official advisers, the Climate Change Committee. The previous Tory government committed under Boris Johnson in 2021 to curb such emissions by 78 per cent over the same period compared to 1990. Thousands of campaigners, scientists and reporters gathered in Baku were waiting for a major pledge like this. So his announcement was immediately met with a wave of appreciation. Nick Mabey, co-chief executive of the climate think tank E3G, said the UK is “stepping up as a climate frontrunner at a time when such leadership is critically needed.”But while the target added momentum to Cop29, campaigners say that this summit is about more than just emissions reductions. A significant focus this year is on climate finance – a crucial aspect of the Paris Agreement, under which wealthier nations are expected to provide funds to help developing countries mitigate and adapt to the climate crisis.And that is where the real test for the UK’s climate leadership lies, experts say. Finance is the thorniest issue in climate negotiations. Rich countries have constantly been at odds with developing countries over every aspect of the finance negotiations, from how much money is needed, to how it is supposed to be paid and in what timeframe. Campaigners say, for true leadership in climate, the UK needs “to be bold in the negotiations” and support the new goal in the trillions.“We’d want the UK to kind of take the lead in pushing for that, that more ambitious goal that’s much needed for front line communities,” Zahra Hdidou from Action Aid UK told The Independent in Baku.The focus of Cop29 is the New Collective Quantified Goal on Finance (NCQG), intended to replace the previous $100bn (£80 bn) annual target and meet the world’s estimated need for over a trillion dollars to stay on track for the 1.5C limit.The state of negotiations in Baku isn’t very different from what has been seen on finance so far. An early draft released on Wednesday laid bare the deep divisions: the text is filled with numerous brackets and options, each reflecting different countries’ positions. Dr Arunabha Ghosh, chief executive of the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), said that the voluminous NCQG text “reveals that various parties are still holding firm to their initial positions.” She says that much work remains to achieve consensus on key issues, including “the quantum, quality, and timelines of climate finance.”But so far, on finance, the UK’s position is no different from other rich countries. It has only pledged to continue honour an earlier $11.6bn (£9bn) pledge. No announcements were made for the loss and damage fund set up last year and the state of negotiations for the new fund continues to remain in shambles. “After 14 meetings over three years, we’re still at a standstill,” Harjeet Singh, global communications director at Fossil Fuels non proliferation treaty, told The Independent.“So it is going to be extremely challenging now, with less than 10 days left, how are we going to decide on a new climate finance goal?”Singh added that the challenge isn’t technical but political. “This is a lack of political will… developed countries are negotiating in bad faith.”So far the only number – 1 trillion – has been put forward by developing countries. Developed countries have been silent on how much money needs to be raised. Campaigners argue that for the UK to genuinely lead on climate, it must push for a “fair share” of climate finance, supporting a finance goal that meets the needs of frontline communities. Fair share is measured by the country’s share of responsibility in greenhouse gas emissions. Around a quarter of emissions are from the US, the other quarter from Europe. Analysis shows the UK’s share of cumulative historical emissions is three per cent of the global total, including CO2 from fossil fuels, cement, land use, land use change and forestry. But including the UK’s role in colonial era emissions, this share jumps to 5.1 per cent, according to an analysis by Carbon Brief. If the UK decides to pay their share for the 1 trillion dollar fund, it will set an example for others, campaigners say. The UK needs take a bigger step forward,” Hdidou added, “given the current context that we’re in. The UK should be paying their fair share.”A clear support for the trillion dolar fund could be another way to assume climate leadership. “True leadership also means acknowledging historical responsibility and moving beyond viewing this solely as an investment opportunity,” Singh said. “Developing countries have been far more bold and specific, saying they need at least a trillion dollars,” he added. “Developed countries, however, are stalling.. they haven’t yet put forward a number.”Campaigners say without an effective funding mechanism, most of the climate targets will remain unfulfilled. The summit comes after a year of multiple billion dollar disasters around the world and as UN report said, 2024 is almost certain to be the hottest on record. More

Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreKeir Starmer and Donald Trump are on a collision course over global warning after the prime minister positioned himself as the international leader on attempting to achieve net zero.The prime minister used his position as one of the only world leaders from the G20 nations to attend the COP29 climate conference in Baku to announce that carbon emissions in the UK will be slashed by 81 per cent by 2035.But it came as president-elect Trump indicated that he would be taking the US in the opposite direction with the controversial appointment of Lee Zeldin to lead the US Environment Protection Agency.There are serious concerns that Trump will now walk away from the Paris Climate Accord as he did in his first term.Sir Keir Starmer speaking in Baku (Carl Court/PA) More

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planetGet our free Climate emailAs Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s recent budget came under fire for its failure to provide significant incentives to boost EV sales, we asked Independent readers what would encourage them to switch from a petrol car to electric.Mr Hunt’s spring Budget did not include sweeteners for private EV buyers, such as a halving VAT on new EVs and a reduction in VAT on public charging, despite industry calls.Manufacturers have expressed concern that the absence of such incentives could hinder their ability to meet the stringent targets outlined in the Government’s zero emission vehicle mandate. From a more robust charging network to batteries with bigger ranges and cheaper electricity rates for charging in public, readers had several thoughts on making EV ownership more attractive.Here’s what you had to say:‘Manufacturers need to make vehicles that match the present usability’If a product needs Government (ie taxpayer) paid for incentives to get people to buy it then it doesn’t say much for the economics of making the product. If I bought a new electric version of my existing hatchback it would cost £10000 more than the equivalent new petrol version, cost more to run due to the present higher cost of electricity, have a much shorter range and take far longer to “refuel” (recharge). Manufacturers need to produce vehicles that match the usability of present vehicles and are a similar cost to run, then market forces will lead to the adoption of this new technology.Halcyon‘It’s been great to use’We replaced our 20-year-old petrol car with an EV, when it became too expensive to get repaired.It’s been great to use, but we can charge at home, which we do 95% of the time.I’ve driven it to Cardiff and back without delay, topping up just (every time) whilst I make a “comfort break”. Leaving it until the tank is nearly empty only makes sense with petrol or dieselJohnG‘Cheaper electricity would be welcome’‘EV only’ markings in the space next to the charging lampposts, as I don’t have a driveway with my own charger and trying to find a lamppost to charge at that doesn’t have a petrol or diesel car parked next to it is incredibly difficult. Cheaper electricity would be welcome too as I have no way of creating my own electricity.Maybe it’s just my manor, Tower Hamlets, but there is a severe lack of fast chargers, so it’s a double whammy! Other than that EVs are great!!GrumpyG‘No need to accept a degraded experience’I would only consider buying an EV if I can replicate what I can do now, including the cost of a replacement vehicle. I can drive from London to Manchester, and back, on just 6 gallons of diesel without the need to stop to fill up (400 miles). When I do fill up it takes no more than 3 minutes and I can always do so without having to wait for a pump to be free which are ubiquitous and available at short distances between each other. To accept anything less convenient or affordable would require me to change how I travel and I won’t agree to that as there is no need to accept that a degraded experience is required.AVoter‘Make electric cars better’Yes. Make electric cars a lot better than they are now. That’s the incentive. Don’t bribe me by taking money away from hospitals saying you’ll give it to me if I make an inferior choice.TheRedSquirrel‘The car industry is pushing EVs to save the car industry, not the planet’Electric cars still have poor and temperature-variable battery capacity; batteries decay in efficiency in a way that petrol and diesel engines simply don’t do; the charging infrastructure is woefully inadequate here, both in capacity and charging speed – I refuse to wait 45 minutes+ drinking over-priced ash-tasting coffee in a bleak and dirty Wild Bean Café. And should you be involved in a serious collision on your way to a frequent and stressful recharge, an EV fire is next to impossible to easily put out.Also range anxiety is still a thing, and there have been enough software problems to cause alarm too. And what happens to the old and spent batteries when the first wave of EV batteries dies? We don’t really know. What’s the environmental cost of ramping up battery production? We really don’t know.And finally, EVs have terrible depreciation and awful resale values. And surely it’d be better for the environment for me to keep my existing well-serviced and efficient five-year-old petrol car that I drive once a month or so, than to scrap it and get an EV?The car industry is pushing EVs to save the car industry, not the planet. If EVs do get subsidised, that’ll help virtue-signalling urbanites and no-one else.IntactilisSome of the comments have been edited for this article. You can read the full discussion in the comments section of the original article.The conversation isn’t over – there’s still time to have your say. If you want to share your opinion then add it in the comments of this story.All you have to do is sign up, submit your question and register your details – then you can then take part in the discussion. You can also sign up by clicking ‘log in’ on the top right-hand corner of the screen.Make sure you adhere to our community guidelines, which can be found here. For a full guide on how to comment click here. More