'Many leaders from the planet's most polluting nations were notably absent from the summit'

Sir Keir Starmer conceded in a major speech on Thursday that the global "consensus is gone" on climate change, while claiming Britain is still "all in" on net zero.

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The Prime Minister had never intended to head to Belem, Brazil, as his senior aides are said to have been wary of how a trip to South America to talk climate would play with voters at home many of whom are already weary of Labour and squeezed by the cost of living.

Those same voters are also bracing for tax rises in the Budget after pitch rolling earlier this week by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

But Sir Keir pencilled in the last-minute dash to the rainforest following a surge in polling support for the Green Party.

The UK's secret weapon was deployed - in the form of Prince William who was representing the King - just as the government is said to be considering rolling back on some of its climate commitments.

The Labour leader does not only have his left flank to worry about politically. There is also the growing threat of Nigel Farage on the right.

Sir Keir has rejected the Reform UK leader's net zero attacks by insisting the government would press ahead at "full speed with the clean power revolution". But the PM has faced accusations that ministers are undermining businesses by having some of the most expensive industrial energy globally.

Mr Farage's party often blasts "net stupid zero" while Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has pledged to repeal the Climate Change Act and insists the 2050 target is "impossible".

Sir Keir's determination to go full steam ahead on the planet is also at odds with his ally across the pond - Donald Trump.

While the US president did not attend this meeting in Belem, his views on climate change were on the minds of other leaders there.

Speaking at the United Nations in September, Mr Trump said climate change was "the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world".