SIR Keir Starmer today insisted he can hit dramatic new climate goals without forcing Brits to eat less meat.
The PM slapped down government green advisers as he argued the UK can reduce fossil fuel usage without a mass drive to vegetarianism or meat taxes.
PASir Keir Starmer today scrambled to assure Brits he won’t hike taxes on meat products as he ramped up the UK’s climate goals[/caption]
At the opening day of the Cop29 green conference in Azerbaijan, Sir Keir risked sparking a row with the UK Climate Change Committee as he said: “The target is my target, and the plan is my plan. I’m not borrowing from somebody else’s plan.
“The target is, as I’ve said now, today. I don’t think that as we tackle this really important issue, the way to do it is to tell people how to run their lives.”
Earlier, No10 scrambled to clarify meat taxes were off the table as the PM had left the door to higher roast prices slightly ajar.
In Baku Sir Keir insisted he won’t be wagging the green finger and telling people “how to live their lives”.
He said: “The new goal is ambitious and that’s measured not by telling people what to do.
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“It’s measured by making sure that we get to clean power by 2030 – that’s the single most important target on the way to the emissions.”
The 81 per cent target aligns with recommendations from the UK’s Climate Change Committee (CCC), whose methods the PM has subscribed to.
The CCC has implored ministers to enforce a 20 per cent reduction in meat and dairy by 2030 and a 35 per cent reduction in meat by 2050.
Addressing the UN green bonanza, the PM argued his climate ambitions pave the way to stronger national security and a green jobs investment blitz.
He said: “The UK has a huge opportunity to get ahead here when it comes to renewables.
“That’s why I’m encouraging as much investment as I can when it comes to clean energy.
“There’s a global race on now to be the global leader on this. I want us to be in the race and I want us to win the race.”
The climate conference comes just days after the re-election of Donald Trump, who has called climate change a “hoax”.
The President-elect has vowed to roll back on green commitments and withdraw the US from Paris climate agreement.
Addressing the gap between Britain and the US on environmental matters, The PM said: “I’m not going to comment on Trump’s views.
“I am very clear in mine which is that the climate challenge is something that we have got to rise to and that’s why I’ve repeatedly said we’ve got to show leadership.”
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