UK backs climate finance and electrification agenda at COP31

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UK at COP31: climate finance

Highlights

UK reaffirms 2050 net zero target at COP31, highlights electrification via major offshore wind projects set to secure billions in investment and thousands of jobs.
Burnham announces UK backing for Amplify programme targeting £5 billion new private finance for global clean energy projects, leveraging the City of London's financial expertise.
UK appoints Dame Madeline Alessandri as first special representative for climate security and pledges to prioritize climate resilience during its 2025 G20 presidency.

Climate security and investment pledges at COP31

As reported by GOV.UK, Burnham tells leaders at COP31 that the UK is committed to its 2050 net zero target and is backing the summit's focus on electrification as a route to stronger energy security. He argues that reliance on fossil fuels is leaving households and businesses exposed to volatile fuel and gas prices, especially as conflicts across two continents push costs higher.

Burnham says electrification matters because it supports jobs as well as energy resilience. He points to UK approval for two major offshore wind projects, which he says will bring billions of investment, power millions of homes and support thousands of jobs, alongside a government-funded electric arc furnace in South Wales that is set to secure 5,000 steel jobs.

He also says Rolls-Royce is taking small modular nuclear reactor technology to international markets, adding to employment gains from the transition. On household costs, Burnham says electric vehicles and heat pumps are becoming cheaper to run in the UK, though he acknowledges that access remains uneven across income groups and says government support and industry action are both needed.

UK expands climate finance and diplomatic role

Burnham uses the speech to frame climate policy as a national security issue and announces the appointment of Dame Madeline Alessandri as the first UK special representative for climate security. He says the move reflects the growing urgency of climate action as the world heads toward 1.5 degrees and as the earlier political consensus around climate science weakens.

On climate finance, Burnham announces UK support for the Amplify programme, which is intended to secure 5 billion pounds in new private finance for clean energy projects globally. He says the City of London is well placed to turn modest public funding into larger pools of private investment, giving the UK a role in helping fund the transition beyond its own borders.

Looking ahead, Burnham says the UK will put climate resilience back on the agenda when it takes up the G20 presidency next year, with debt, development and insurance identified as key issues. He also says Britain will maintain support for protecting tropical forests and oceans, presenting conservation alongside energy transition as part of the UK's broader climate commitments.

Earlier, we discussed Malaysia’s need for stronger fiscal buffers to withstand geopolitical tensions, pandemics, and climate shocks.

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