(Adnkronos) – British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced the appointment of a special envoy dedicated to “climate security”, a world first, to better prepare for the increasing impacts of global warming. In a speech at Cop31, the United Nations climate conference in Antalya, Turkey, the Labour leader recalled spending the first three weeks of his premiership last summer battling the worst wildfires Britain had ever seen. “I decided then that it was important for me to be here to demonstrate British leadership in a world where climate issues have too often been neglected,” said Burnham, the only G7 leader present at the summit.
“Climate is a national security issue,” Burnham said. “As proof of this, I announce today the appointment of Dame Madeleine Alessandri as the UK’s first special representative for climate security,” he added. Alessandri is the former head of the UK’s Joint Intelligence Committee, the body that informs ministers about security threats. “In this role, I will work with governmental and international partners to strengthen our understanding of climate threats, build resilience, and ensure better preparation for future challenges,” Alessandri stated in a press release.
