UK's commitment Britain to announce tough climate goal

Keir Starmer will announce a stringent new climate goal for the UK today, the Guardian can reveal, with a target in line with the advice given to the government by its scientists and independent advisers.

- Fiona Harvey

The UK will pledge to cut emissions by 81% compared with 1990 levels by 2035, a target in line with the recommendations of the Climate Change Committee.

The goal will be one of the first nationally determined contributions (NDCs) to be announced at a crucial UN climate summit, known as Cop29, taking place in Azerbaijan this week, and is expected to be one of the most ambitious by any government at the talks.

The goal would be achieved by decarbonising the power sector and through a massive expansion of offshore wind, as well as through investments in carbon capture and storage, and nuclear energy.

The UK is one of the first countries to announce an NDC, which are not due until February next year. So far, the NDCs that have been submitted have been found "underwhelming" by campaigners.

The NDC submitted by the previous Cop host, the United Arab Emirates, was described as "greenwashing" by the environmental activist group 350.org.

A submission by the next host, Brazil, was also criticised for being insufficient and called "misaligned" by Climate Observatory.

Friends of the Earth's head of campaigns, Rosie Downes, said: "With the warning signals flashing red, a planet battered by increasingly severe floods, storms and heatwaves, and the election of climate denier President Trump, the need for climate leadership by the UK has never been more urgent.