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A wave of recent domestic and international announcements signal serious intent from the new government to make the UK a clean energy superpower and green finance capital. Will they be enough to cement leadership status?
Ambitious climate commitments at COP29, co-launching a Global Clean Power Alliance at the G20 summit, and high-profile appointments on climate indicate that the UK government has identified climate as an opportunity to lead internationally.
Echoing this strategy at home, Rachel Reeves, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, delivered a raft of green policy updates in her first Mansion House speech, aiming to harness green potential at the annual address focused on economics and finance. This followed the recent launch of the National Wealth Fund and a new consultation on UK industrial strategy – Invest 2035.
We outline the key announcements and explore what more could be done to put the UK in pole position as a climate leader.
Raising ambition internationally
In the recent revision of its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), announced at COP29, the UK committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 81% by 2035 compared to 1990 levels. It was one of just three countries to release updated NDCs at the conference ahead of the February 2025 deadline.
“It’s more than an obligation, it’s a huge opportunity.” Keir Starmer, UK Prime Minister.
While further details on the implementation and financing of the NDC are still pending, its early publication sends a strong signal of commitment, aligning with the recommendations of the UK Climate Change Committee (CCC). We particularly look forward to the government’s steps in making these targets investable, which can help to attract long-term private investment.
The Prime Minister’s attendance at COP29 was a signal in itself, where several high-profile leaders did not attend. Speaking in Baku, Keir Starmer told world media that climate leadership is: “More than just an obligation, it’s a huge opportunity.”
At the G20 Summit the following week, the Prime Minister co-launched the Global Clean Power Alliance. This new Alliance aims to accelerate global uptake of renewable energy and will set up various ‘Missions’ to address critical energy transition challenges, with 12 countries already signed up to the first.
Brazil will co-chair the Finance Mission ahead of hosting the COP30 summit in Belem next year, signalling a positive first step and the potential for further ambitious collaboration to unlock private finance on the road to the next COP.
To further boost its climate diplomacy efforts, the UK appointed Rachel Kyte as Special Representative for Climate, and Ruth Davis as the first Special Representative for Nature. Rachel Kyte previously served as special representative for the UN and as a vice president of the World Bank, while Ruth Davis is one of the country’s leading environmental policy experts.
Matched by domestic ambition
In the UK, Rachel Reeves used her first Mansion House address to set out: “a long-term strategy to harness the strengths of our financial services sector and make the UK a global leader in sustainable finance.”
The Chancellor provided clarity on several live policy initiatives, including committing to consult on mandatory transition plans next year and announcing the creation of the Transition Finance Council. The latter comes in response to recommendations from the Transition Finance Market Review, which IIGCC contributed to. We welcome the next steps set out in the Green Taxonomy consultation.
These green finance announcements add to other steps the government has taken since coming into power to support the decarbonisation of the real economyincluding the establishment of a National Wealth Fund to support growth and clean energy missions. Initial capital for the fund of GBP 7.3 billion was announced in the recent Budget.
This, together with the publication of the Invest 2035 consultation focused on industrial strategy, indicates continued efforts to accelerate the decarbonisation of the UK economy. The Budget also included targeted investments to strengthen the green economy
There is, however, a need to further clarify how these initiatives will work in practice, including how to operationalise the National Wealth Fund. Critically, these efforts should be underpinned by a centralised strategy to facilitate the delivery of net zero through sectoral decarbonisation pathways and national transition planning.
Next steps
As we await further details on the implementation of this green agenda, investors will welcome the steps the UK has taken in both accelerating real economy action and advancing sustainable finance policies.
On the global stage, the UK’s reassertion of its climate commitment is a welcome development, with leadership from developed countries essential to meeting global climate goals. At home, the alignment of sustainable finance with real economy strategies remains crucial. There is a significant opportunity to lay out sectoral decarbonisation roadmaps and foster collaboration between various sectors to drive green growth.
On the question of leadership status, the true test will lie in the detailed implementation of these plans, sustained momentum, and measurable outcomes. What is clear is that investors will play a critical role in achieving these climate goals at home and abroad.
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