Burnham promises ‘new era of British climate leadership’ at Cop31 summit - The Independent
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Andy Burnham is set to promise a "new era of British leadership" on international climate policy as he appoints a dedicated climate security envoy at the UN Cop31 summit in Turkey, warning that global agreement on the issue has fractured.
Attending the annual conference for the first time in his capacity as Prime Minister on Thursday, he will highlight that the "climate crisis is upon all of us now" following an uncharacteristically severe summer of extreme heat, drought, and wildfires.
He will maintain that the UK "remains determined to reach net zero by 2050", amid criticism that his administration is scaling back its environmental priorities.
The Prime Minister is expected to stand as the only G7 leader addressing the gathering in the Mediterranean resort of Antalya, after US President Donald Trump chose not to send a delegation for a second consecutive year.
During the summit, the Prime Minister will announce the appointment of Dame Madeleine Alessandri—formerly chairwoman of the Joint Intelligence Committee responsible for providing ministers with security assessments—as special representative for climate security.
Her role will focus on deepening international cooperation and ensuring environmental and climate risks are treated as core national security concerns, with an emphasis on addressing threats before they escalate into crisis.
Mr Burnham, who arrived in Antalya on Wednesday evening, is expected to address delegates: "We should all recognise the summer was not normal.
"The climate crisis is upon all of us now. We saw that with the wildfires that devastated lives and livelihoods everywhere.
"The message I carry here, in my first Cop as Prime Minister, is that the UK remains determined to reach net zero by 2050 and to work with our partners to build a clean energy future.
"The world has changed. The consensus we once enjoyed on science and climate action has broken down.
"We will not stand by and that’s why I’ve pledged a new era of British leadership over the next decade."
Dame Madeleine stated she would "work with partners across government and internationally to strengthen our understanding of climate threats, build resilience, and ensure we are better prepared for the challenges ahead."
Mr Burnham is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting on the summit sidelines with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, whose election victory over Flavio Bolsonaro last month was welcomed by environmental campaigners.
Downing Street indicated the two leaders will focus on protecting the Amazon, reversing deforestation, and accelerating the clean energy transition, including British support for the Tropical Forests Forever Facility.
The gathering takes place against a backdrop of rising global oil and gas prices triggered by conflict in Iran, which has forced countries to re-evaluate energy strategies.
Questions over Mr Burnham’s environmental commitment have grown amid reports ministers are considering reducing electric vehicle sales targets by roughly a quarter.
Government approval of the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea has also drawn sharp criticism from campaigners, who are urging the administration to block the even larger Rosebank oil project.
UN secretary general Antonio Guterres warned leaders at Cop31 on Wednesday that "fossil fuels must go the way of the dinosaurs", cautioning that current policies place the planet on a "path to mutually assured destruction".
Ruth Fuller, chief climate adviser at WWF, said: "Any commitments at Cop31 will ring hollow if he allows drilling in the Rosebank oilfield and rolls back on targets for electric vehicles.
"All eyes are on what Andy Burnham does on climate to help bring down food and energy bills in the UK.
"It will either highlight genuine leadership or disappointing lip service."
Asad Rehman, chief executive of Friends Of The Earth, added: "Here’s hoping the Prime Minister has something up his sleeve that will turn things around tomorrow – starting with a commitment to phase out fossil fuels fully, reject Rosebank once and for all, and stump up real finance to support the countries most exposed to the accelerating impacts of the climate crisis."
Ahead of the trip, Mr Burnham sought to underline his green agenda by welcoming a £12 billion investment in offshore wind farms off the Norfolk coast, which includes £1 billion from the state-backed National Wealth Fund.
At Cop31, the Prime Minister will outline further British backing for the Climate Investment Funds’ Amplifi scheme, designed to attract up to £12 in private investment for every £1 of public expenditure.
He will also endorse Turkey’s proposal to raise the proportion of global energy demand supplied by electricity from 21% to 35% by 2035.
The Government plans to publish a clean electrification road map establishing its strategy for affordable and secure energy infrastructure.
The UK currently ranks 15th among G20 nations for energy system electrification, according to research by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit.
The Prince of Wales will attend the summit alongside a UK delegation featuring Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh, and climate minister Katie White.
Absent from proceedings are leaders of major emitting nations including China’s Xi Jinping and India’s Narendra Modi.
Other notable absentees include France’s Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Friedrich Merz, and Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, who are attending a meeting of around 50 European leaders in Ireland.
Following his appearance in Antalya, Mr Burnham will travel directly to Dublin for the European Political Community summit on Thursday, where he plans to announce additional sanctions on Russia and discuss hybrid threats to European security.
He will conduct several bilateral and multilateral talks at the summit, coming after he reopened discussions regarding the UK's relationship with the bloc ahead of next Friday's UK-EU reset summit in Brussels.
