UK PM Starmer Vows to Lead on Tackling Climate Crisis as Funding for Tropical Forest Preservation Sparks Row
Britain is committed to leading the charge in tackling climate change, Prime Minister Keir Starmer vowed ahead of the Cop30 UN conference, with clean energy expected to be a key driver of economic growth and lower bills. However, his words were overshadowed by controversy over funding for tropical forest preservation.
Starmer announced new investment in the low-carbon economy, aimed at boosting economic growth, as he joined other world leaders in Brazil for a summit on climate action. The UK has seen its green economy grow three times faster than other sectors, according to Starmer. He argued that clean energy is not just about national security, but also about delivering jobs and opportunities for future generations.
Despite his support for climate action, Starmer's decision not to contribute to Brazil's flagship project, the Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF), has sparked criticism at home and abroad. The TFFF aims to raise $125 billion in funding for projects in forested countries, including Brazil, with private sector investors and financial markets expected to chip in.
Some experts have raised concerns over the structure of the fund, but Starmer's government is willing to wait until it has shown its effectiveness before committing. The UK's failure to contribute to the TFFF may prove embarrassing for Prince William, who is also in Brazil promoting the Earthshot prize, which the facility is nominated for.
Critics have accused Starmer's government of being inconsistent on climate action, with some aides urging him to skip the conference due to concerns over his own party's stance on the issue. However, the PM remains committed to pushing forward with a greener economy, arguing that it will deliver national renewal and boost economic growth.
The UK's pledge to cut emissions is stronger than many other countries', with Starmer boasting of the £50 billion of investment in clean energy since his election. However, China has been accused of having an overly weak plan, while the EU failed to agree on a target until late Tuesday night, after months of squabbling among member states.
As the world prepares for Cop30, it remains to be seen whether Starmer's commitment to a low-carbon economy will translate into concrete action at the UN conference.
Britain is committed to leading the charge in tackling climate change, Prime Minister Keir Starmer vowed ahead of the Cop30 UN conference, with clean energy expected to be a key driver of economic growth and lower bills. However, his words were overshadowed by controversy over funding for tropical forest preservation.
Starmer announced new investment in the low-carbon economy, aimed at boosting economic growth, as he joined other world leaders in Brazil for a summit on climate action. The UK has seen its green economy grow three times faster than other sectors, according to Starmer. He argued that clean energy is not just about national security, but also about delivering jobs and opportunities for future generations.
Despite his support for climate action, Starmer's decision not to contribute to Brazil's flagship project, the Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF), has sparked criticism at home and abroad. The TFFF aims to raise $125 billion in funding for projects in forested countries, including Brazil, with private sector investors and financial markets expected to chip in.
Some experts have raised concerns over the structure of the fund, but Starmer's government is willing to wait until it has shown its effectiveness before committing. The UK's failure to contribute to the TFFF may prove embarrassing for Prince William, who is also in Brazil promoting the Earthshot prize, which the facility is nominated for.
Critics have accused Starmer's government of being inconsistent on climate action, with some aides urging him to skip the conference due to concerns over his own party's stance on the issue. However, the PM remains committed to pushing forward with a greener economy, arguing that it will deliver national renewal and boost economic growth.
The UK's pledge to cut emissions is stronger than many other countries', with Starmer boasting of the £50 billion of investment in clean energy since his election. However, China has been accused of having an overly weak plan, while the EU failed to agree on a target until late Tuesday night, after months of squabbling among member states.
As the world prepares for Cop30, it remains to be seen whether Starmer's commitment to a low-carbon economy will translate into concrete action at the UN conference.
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." 
imo its great that starmer is makin a big deal about uk investin in clean energy & lowerin bills 
but gotta wonder why hes skippin on that tropical forest preservation project 
meanwhile eu's takin forever to agree on somethin 
starmer needs to get his act together or risk lookin like everythin he says is empty 
. But what really bothers me is that Starmer is basically saying "we'll lead on climate change once we've seen the effectiveness of this project" 
. It feels like he's holding out for a silver bullet instead of taking action and making things happen 
.
. Can we trust him to follow through on his promises? Only time will tell 
.
. I mean, we've been hearing that one for years now, and what have we gotten so far? A bunch of empty promises and broken commitments 
.
... I hope PMs team figures out a way to make TFFF work 
how does preserving trees help with climate change tho? 
is it not like, just planting more trees and then the planet's all good? 
I mean, who needs some vague promises from the EU when we've got a country like China not even bothering to set a target for itself? And let's be real, £50 billion for clean energy sounds like just a drop in the bucket compared to what other countries are pumping into their own sustainability initiatives. The UK should just take the lead and show everyone else how it's done