UK Climate Minister Urges COP31 to Act on ‘Scary’ Science, Pushes Electrification and Methane Targets

UK Climate Minister Katie White said the upcoming COP31 in Antalya must respond to the latest climate science, which she described as “really scary.” She highlighted the UK’s priorities for the summit: electrification, methane reduction, and deforestation mitigation. White stressed that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports should anchor discussions and that the UK will work to “hold up the science.” She defended the approval of the Jackdaw gas field, arguing it aligns with carbon budgets and the transition away from fossil fuels. White also noted the Hormuz crisis has spurred record uptake of solar, electric vehicles and heat pumps in the UK, and she defended the new budget’s focus on affordability as a natural evolution of policy. The minister’s remarks signal the UK’s intent to shape COP31’s agenda around concrete, science‑driven actions.