The UK will put forward its revised greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets in advance of next year's UN climate summit (Cop26), the event's president, Alok Sharma, said this week.
"Every country must come forward with the highest possible ambition in their nationally determined contributions [NDCs] and long-term strategies," said Sharma, who also serves as UK minister for business, energy and industrial strategy. "The UK will play its part and come forward with an increased NDC well ahead of Cop 26."
The UK government was not required to propose an original NDC to the Paris climate agreement when they were submitted in 2016-17, as EU member states presented a joint one — for a 40pc emissions reduction from 1990 levels by 2030. But the UK will now become an independent party to the agreement after leaving the EU earlier this year .
Sharma acknowledged the Marshall Islands, Suriname, Norway and Chile for already having presented their revised NDCs.
Cop 26 is considered the most important UN climate summit since the 2015 meeting — which produced the Paris agreement — because it marks the deadline for countries to update their NDCs for reducing GHG emissions in line with the Paris treaty. Current national emissions commitments would result in global temperatures rising by 3.2°C from pre-industrial levels by 2100, exceeding the maximum 2°C cap and more ambitious 1.5°C aim put forward under the agreement.
Sharma this week reiterated the UK's continued commitment to the event, despite the disruption caused by Covid-19. The summit was initially scheduled to take place in Glasgow in November, but has been postponed until next year because of the pandemic.
"As incoming presidency, with our partners Italy, we pledge to keep a focus on increasing climate ambition and action, even through this very difficult period," Sharma said.
"The world needs to see more ambition to tackle the climate crisis. More ambition on adaptation and resilience, more ambition on mitigation, and more ambition on support to vulnerable countries. And that ambition needs to translate into real world action."
