UK leader stands firm on green plans as Trump prepares for White House return

British PM defends climate-change goals despite upcoming US policy shifts under Trump presidency. Economic benefits of green tech remain key focus despite growing international push-back

November 18 2024 , 01:14 PM  •  334 views

UK leader stands firm on green plans as Trump prepares for White House return

At the G20 summit in Rio‚ Sir Keir Starmer defended UKʼs eco-friendly direction despite Donald Trumpʼs upcoming return to power. The British PM (speaking from Brazil) insisted that his countrys green targets would stay on-track: even as US plans major environmental policy roll-backs

No‚ I dont think so. In addition to this being an obligation‚ it is also the single biggest set of opportunities that we have as a country to get ahead on the economy

Starmerʼs response to concerns about international climate efforts

The meeting marks Starmerʼs final face-to-face talk with Joe Biden before new US leadership takes over. The president-elect already picked a pro-fracking boss as energy chief and plans to boost oil-and-gas output; while working with Javier Milei of Argentina to block new G20 climate deals

The British leader pointed to green-tech as a key economic driver - highlighting plans for UK-made wind turbines. While Britain makes up less than 1% of world emissions (compared to USʼs 12.6%)‚ Starmer sees eco-friendly manufacturing as a game-changer for British jobs

Last weeks COP summit in Azerbaijan brought fresh questions about Starmerʼs approach. His 470-person delegationʼs long-distance trip faced push-back‚ with ex-minister Graham Stringer noting:

Its a complete waste of money. There are more private jets and large jets going to Baku than anywhere else at the moment

criticism from former Labour minister