The UK government is culpable for the planet’s failure to meet its climate targets ahead of Cop26, Ed Miliband has said.

According to a report by the London Economic, Miliband, the shadow business secretary, said the government’s approach is undermining their standing on climate issues ahead of talks in Glasgow next month.

But Miliband told The Independent that the world is miles off where it needs to be.

He said, “I’m afraid the government does bear culpability. There are obviously massive geopolitical forces shaping this, but they haven’t helped.

“Whether it’s cutting overseas aid or telling people to power past coal and not doing it themselves, all of those things undermine their standing.”

He added that to ensure success at Cop26, Johnson must convince wealthy countries must fulfil promises to provide £75bn annually for poorer countries looking to adapt to the climate emergency.

Recent analysis shows countries are lagging far behind the global targets of emissions falling by 45 per cent by 2030.

At the current rate, emissions would actually increase by 16 per cent, a UN report said.