UK premier announces $2B to support climate projects

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Friday pledged to spend $2 billion of support for clean energy and innovation.

Addressing the COP28 climate summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunak said that despite positive progress, the world is not moving fast enough towards the required targets to curb climate change.

"Climate politics is close to breaking point because the gap between pledges and delivery is undermining credibility," he said. "We're off track."

He said that major emitters "must dramatically accelerate" delivery of what they've already promised on reducing carbon emissions.

"We all need to do more and we must address the disconnect between lofty rhetoric on stages like this, and the reality of people's lives around the world."

He reiterated that the UK is "totally committed" to the Net Zero target, the Paris Agreement, and to keeping the 1.5-degree target alive, adding that growing the economy and creating jobs is possible while cutting emissions at the same time.

Reminding that his country has already announced £1.6 million ($2 billion) for the Green Climate Fund, Sunak also announced an additional £1.6 billion pounds of support for clean energy and innovation and to deliver on the Glasgow Forest Deal.

"Because we can't get to net zero without nature," he added.

On Sept. 21, Sunak announced a series of changes in the country’s key net-zero carbon emission targets, including delaying a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars, while also backing new oil and gas exploration in North Sea.

Since then, the government has met with a wide range of criticism from many over a "huge U-turn" and "losing climate action leadership" by many.