World leaders to speak as Cop29 resumes – live updates

The UK is to announce its new NDC, or nationally determined contribution, at the conference today. My colleague Fiona Harvey revealed last night that it will commit to an emissions reduction of 81% on 1990 levels by 2035.

The target is in line with the recommendation made by the government’s official advisers, the Climate Change Committee. Although campaigners have said the target should be considered the bare minimum the UK should commit to, privately many will feel relieved the target is not lower.

The UK is currently off track to meet its 2030 commitment of a 68% cut in emissions on 1990 levels, having reduced its ambition under the Sunak government.

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After a rather frustrating first day, when disagreements over the agenda led to delays and false starts, today is – or should be – the day Cop29 really gets going. Put another way, it’s when the circus comes to town, because security ramps up meaning no one can get anywhere, the corridors are packed with guards and camerapeople, and for this segment of the conference world leaders get to bask in the spotlight.

This is the start of the World Leaders Climate Action Summit, when heads of state and government arrive. This year, there will be notably fewer from big developed countries than could usually be expected.

After the election of Donald Trump, Joe Biden will not be putting in an appearance, and the beleaguered US delegation are looking anxious. Xi Jinping of China has made a habit of staying at home for Cops. Germany’s Olaf Scholz is facing the dissolution of his coalition, so he won’t be coming.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen is stuck in the midst of confirmation hearings for her cabinet, which also means that Cop veterans Teresa Ribera – the dynamic former Spanish environment minister who has galvanised previous Cops – and Dan Jorgensen, the former Danish environment minister who has been a steadying presence since his first Cop in Copenhagen in 2009, will also be stuck in Brussels. Emanuel Macron of France has an ongoing crisis to cope with so is staying in Paris, from where he yesterday waved off Keir Starmer, one of the few heads of major economies to hit Baku.

Starmer is expected to unveil the UK’s NDC and boost the prospect of private sector cash ramping up to join the public money that is expected to be pledged here, through a deal that will see a key climate fundraising vehicle listed in London.

He will be joined by Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey, and others.

There will also be plenty of space given to developing countries to make their points. Mia Mottley of Barbados is here, an electric presence at previous Cops whose ideas for a revolution in climate finance are now becoming mainstream.

For Azerbaijan’s presidency, today will be crucial for national prestige. They will look to capitalise on the presence of leaders to give the instructions to their negotiating teams that are needed to unlock the talks. Behind the scenes and the public speeches, they will try to ensure that political leaders don’t get away with just an exchange of warm words and some photo opportunities.