Burnham reaffirms UK net-zero pledge at COP31

Andy Burnham said at the COP31 climate summit in Antalya on Thursday that the United Kingdom remained committed to its 2050 net-zero target and would work with other countries to meet theirs. The prime minister also announced the appointment of Dame Madeleine Alessandri as the government’s special representative for climate security, a role intended to improve understanding of climate risks and strengthen preparedness and partnerships.

Burnham’s remarks came as campaigners and climate experts questioned whether the government’s domestic decisions matched its international commitments. He said the UK would work with partners toward a clean-energy future and pledged a new era of British climate leadership over the next decade. In his speech, he said the climate crisis was affecting lives and livelihoods, citing wildfires and extreme summer conditions.

Alessandri, a former chair of the Joint Intelligence Committee, will work across government and internationally to identify climate and nature-related security risks and build resilience, according to the appointment announcement. She said the aim was to address risks before they developed into crises. The government’s move follows a...