Pressure mounts on Starmer to boost climate action at COP29 amid Trump concerns

The Prime Minister will arrive in Azerbaijan this evening for the COP29 summit which is sparse on world leaders.

Downing Street confirmed Sir Keir has no plans to meet the Taliban while in the oil nation's capital Baku.

Asked what the Prime Minister thought of the militant group attending the talks, and whether he had any plans to come face to face with delegates, a Number 10 spokeswoman said: "No plans to meet with them.

"I think attendance is a matter for the organisers, but more broadly the summit I think is bringing together 96 different delegations from across the world and the objective is obviously to strengthen global climate action and engagement on that issue.

"It is obviously vital that we approach the talks and the event with that common purpose (at the) forefront of our mind."

Joe Biden's administration will be at the talks but some fear the United States' role is pointless with climate sceptic Mr Trump unlikely to stick to any pledges made.

One of Mr Trump's signal acts in his first presidential term was to withdraw the US from the Paris climate agreement -the global accord which commits countries to pursue efforts to curb warming to 1.5C.

He is expected to do the same again when he re-enters the White House, four years after Mr Biden took the US back in.

The next President of the US, the world's second biggest polluter, is also expected to boost fossil fuels and roll back on green incentives domestically.

Meanwhile campaigners have said Sir Keir must deliver finance for poor countries to cope with climate change, and increase thhe UK's ambitions on emissions cuts.

Sir Keir said: "Britain must work with other countries to combat climate change - solving these urgent problems at their root and tackling the causes because our country is stronger when we do.

"This is why I have travelled to the COP29 summit in Baku, to harness international cooperation in order to protect our country's security and prosperity.

"The UK is wasting no time to accelerate the global transition to clean energy and put us at the forefront of the industries of the future - creating jobs and growth across the country."