Oil and gas is a 'gift from God', Azerbaijan tells Keir Starmer and the Taliban as thinly attended COP26 climate summit descends into farce... while PM commits to 81% cut in emissions

Keir Starmer committed the UK to a massive cut in carbon emissions at the COP29 summit today - despite the host hailing oil and gas as a 'gift from God'. The Azerbaijan president Ilham Aliyev insisted countries should not be embarrassed about selling fossil fuels Keir Starmer committed the UK to a massive cut in carbon emissions at the COP29 summit today Matiul Haq Khalis, the head of Afghanistan's Environmental Protection Agency, spoke to the media about the impact of climate change on the country The PM is one of the only premiers from the wealthiest nations in Azerbaijan for the annual gathering. Pictured, a woman attendee poses with the COP29 sign Sir Keir met World Bank President Ajay Banga in Baku this morning Countries will also be grappling with Donald Trump's return to the White House, in what analysts say is a trend of climate scepticism in elections this year Outgoing US president Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and India's Narendra Modi are not going to Baku. Keir Starmer, pictured holding a financial roundtable, insisted Britain can show the way on climate change as he attended the the COP29 summit today Sir Keir is laying out a target for the UK to slash 81 per cent off carbon emissions by 2035, compared to 1990 levels He added: 'I accept it's a difficult target.