The key facts

  • UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham at COP31 in Antalya called the transition to clean energy 'the only path to energy security'
  • Dame Madeleine Alessandri was announced as the UK's first Special Representative for Climate Security
  • London backed the Amplify programme, which is expected to mobilise £5 billion (over $6.6 billion) in private finance for clean energy

Burnham Linked Energy Security to Moving Away from Fossil Fuels

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham spoke on Thursday at the high-level session of the COP31 climate conference in Antalya, Turkey. According to him, dependence on fossil fuels has become the common cause of rising energy costs around the world: 'Two wars on two continents have sent fuel prices and gas bills soaring for families and businesses across the globe.' He stated that 'the transition to clean energy is the only path to energy security,' and that electrification is a way to shield households from global fossil fuel price shocks.

Concrete Commitments: Wind Farms, Climate Security and Finance

Burnham reaffirmed the United Kingdom's commitment to reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 and said that electrification would also create jobs and lower household bills. He recalled two offshore wind projects approved the day before, on Wednesday: they are expected to attract billions in investment and create thousands of jobs. The Prime Minister called climate a matter of national security and announced the appointment of Dame Madeleine Alessandri as the UK's first Special Representative for Climate Security. London also backed the Amplify programme, aimed at mobilising £5 billion (over $6.6 billion) in private finance for clean energy projects worldwide. In addition, Burnham pledged that during the upcoming UK presidency of the G20, priority would be given to climate resilience, debt, development and insurance.