Britain is a “poster child” of tackling climate change, a Cabinet minister claimed on Friday despite the Government scaling back action to cut emissions.
Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary Claire Coutinho made the bold assertion at the COP28 anti-global warming summit in Dubai.
The Government has been criticised for pushing back a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by five years until 2035 and slowing down plans to phase out new gas boilers in homes in Britain.
Its own global warming watchdog, the UK's Climate Change Committee, has also warned that the Government risks losing Britain's reputation as a world leader on addressing the potentially existential threat to parts of the planet of rising temperatures and extreme weather.
But Ms Coutinho insisted: “Overall people look to the UK as a bit of a poster child when it comes to net zero.
“No-one of our international peers has cut their emissions as fast as us.
“Even going forward, if you look at 2030, we have the most ambitious targets.
“We are planning to cut carbon at 68 per cent, the EU by 55 per cent, and the US is at 40 per cent.
“So the UK is enormously far ahead.”
On the Government’s decisions to delay some actions to reduce carbon emissions, she added: “I don’t think anyone disagrees with the fact that we need to be very logical and hard-headed about this because this is a practical problem.
“There is no winning in being ideological about it.
"You have got to think these things through very carefully which is why in recent weeks you have seen us make these decisions which is to protect household finances to shield UK households from the worst cost of net zero, give people a bit more time.
“But then we have also been turning the dial up on cleaner energy.”
But Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson Sarah Olney accused the Government of "endless broken promises on the environment" including "letting oil firms get away with monster profits during a cost of living crisis" and "signing off new gas drilling sites in the Surrey Hills, literally a stones throw from the capital".
She added: "I'm not sure how Conservative Ministers can keep a straight face at this COP after their dismal record."
But Rishi Sunak said the UK has "a great story to tell" at the Cop28 climate conference in Dubai.
Challenged over whether his rollback of climate ambition at home makes it harder to push other countries to do more, the Prime Minister told broadcasters: "We have got an incredible track record in decarbonising in the UK, faster than any other major economy. We should be really proud of that.
"And I'll be proud of that record at my meetings later today."
He added: "We're leading the world in new industries like offshore wind. We're protecting nature at home, so we've got a great story to tell."
He said other countries are "deeply appreciative" of the support that they are receiving from the UK to help them with the transition.
The Prime Minister also heaped praise on the King for his involvement in the annual UN climate talks in Dubai, saying Charles' role attested to Britain's authority on green issues.
Mr Sunak announced £1.6 billion for international climate finance, including to support projects to halt deforestation and accelerate the transition to renewable energy.
But his attendance at Cop28 comes after he scaled back a host of pledges designed to help the UK reach net zero by 2050 and vowed to "max out" the UK's oil and gas reserves by granting new North Sea drilling licences.
Ministers insist they are still on target to meet the 2050 goal.
But Tory peer Lord Goldsmith, who resigned as environment minister accusing Mr Sunak of being "uninterested" in green issues, told Sky News: "There's no doubt our standing has diminished considerably in recent months.
"The UK is just not seen by our allies - big and also small island members of the commonwealth - as a reliable or serious partner."
Mr Sunak defended his move to issue more licences for North Sea exploration, arguing that "the practical and sensible thing for the country is to make sure we use the resources at home as part of that sensible transition".
