Burnham says climate consensus 'gone' but pledges 'new era of leadership' in COP31 speech
Summary
At the COP31 summit in Turkey, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said agreement on climate science and climate action had weakened, while pledging a new era of UK leadership. He highlighted the security and economic risks of climate change and appointed Dame Madeleine Alessandri as the UK’s first climate security envoy, but campaigners criticized recent UK decisions they say conflict with the pledge.Key Facts
- Burnham said the UK remained committed to reaching net zero emissions by 2050 and to reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
- Burnham cited the UK’s record-hot summer; the Met Office said climate change made such heat 130 times more likely.
- The article reports that hundreds of schools closed, cereal harvests fell by 11%, and ambulance services faced unusually high demand during the summer heat.
- Burnham appointed former Joint Intelligence Committee head Dame Madeleine Alessandri as climate security envoy.
- Turkey is seeking a COP31 commitment for countries to meet 35% of their energy needs through electricity by 2035; the current share is about one-fifth.
- Campaigners criticized the UK government’s approval of the Jackdaw gas field and a cut to funding for the Warm Homes Plan, which supports heat-pump installations.
- The United States is due to hold the G20 presidency next year; the article says President Donald Trump withdrew the country from the Paris Climate Agreement.
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