Government divisions emerge over Clean Power 2030 commitment at COP31

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has voiced support for the electrification agenda at COP31 in Turkey, yet signs of internal government division have emerged regarding the UK’s Clean Power 2030 target. While the Prime Minister emphasised the broader benefits of electrification for energy security and household bills, he did not explicitly reaffirm the 2030 clean power pledge in his address. This ambiguity has contrasted with the more direct references to the target made by other senior ministers, highlighting a lack of unified messaging on the government’s core climate commitments.

During his speech in Turkey, Burnham stated he was proud to back the COP31 focus on electrification, which centres on a goal for electricity to constitute 35 per cent of final energy consumption by 2035. He argued that this shift would deliver energy security, create quality jobs, and ultimately reduce consumer bills. Reflecting on his attendance at COP26 in Glasgow as the Mayor of Manchester, the Prime Minister acknowledged that progress over the last five years had not been as rapid as he had hoped. He noted that the global landscape has changed significantly and that the UK must adapt accordingly. Currently, electrification accounts for approximately 17 per cent of the UK’s energy consumption, indicating a substantial gap to the international targets being discussed at the summit.

Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh addressed the urgency of the situation before the formal COP31 process commenced. She acknowledged that the world is likely to overshoot the 1.5 degree warming limit but insisted this must drive efforts to reduce emissions and assist adaptation. In a BBC interview, Fahnbulleh described the Clean Power 2030 pledge as a stretch target that has generated significant momentum, stating the government intends to pursue it. However, she stopped short of confirming the country would meet the Labour Party’s manifesto commitment. She defended the development of the Jackdaw gas project as essential for energy security, arguing that the alternative would be importing gas from the United States, which carries higher emissions. She maintained that affordability remains her primary priority, with clean power serving as one route to achieving it.

Former Energy Secretary and current Foreign Minister Ed Miliband provided a clearer endorsement of the 2030 target during his remarks in Turkey. He stated that security cannot be achieved while dependent on fossil fuels and outlined the UK’s mission for clean power by 2030, alongside the phase-out of new petrol and diesel cars and the Warm Homes Plan. Miliband also announced a £200 million investment over four years through the Private Infrastructure Development Group to support climate-resilient infrastructure in emerging economies. The UK further appointed Madeleine Alessandri as Special Representative for Climate Security at COP31. Alessandri was involved in drafting a report on climate security impacts, which the government initially attempted to suppress before limited details were released following a freedom of information request.

Shadow Energy Secretary Andrew Bowie highlighted the apparent fractures within the government, claiming it is totally divided on energy policy. He pointed to reports that Fahnbulleh would reject the Rosebank oil project, while Chancellor John Healey was seen as backing it. This internal disagreement underscores the challenges the government faces in presenting a cohesive front on energy and climate policy during the critical COP31 negotiations.