UK ministers have no plans to publish explosive report on climate crisis
The UK government still has no plans to publish an explosive report on climate security risks, despite appointing its former head as climate security adviser.
The UK government still has no plans to publish an explosive report showing the national security risk from the collapse of ecosystems around the world – even after handing the key official behind the report a new advisory role. The report, which was supposed to be launched at last year's Cop climate summit, was suppressed by Keir Starmer's government.
The Guardian revealed through a leak the key contents of the report, which found that food shortages, food price rises, mass migration and nuclear conflict overseas could result from the failure to prevent the collapse of key ecosystems, including the Amazon rainforest. An early redacted version was released earlier this year.
New Climate Security Role
Prime Minister Andy Burnham addressed the Cop31 climate summit in Turkey and announced the appointment of Madeleine Alessandri as adviser on climate security. Alessandri, a long-serving civil servant and former head of the UK's joint intelligence committee, spearheaded the publication of the suppressed climate report.
The message I carry here, in my first Cop as prime minister, is that the UK remains determined to reach net zero by 2050 and to work with our partners to build a clean energy future.
Government Concerns
Despite Burnham's public declaration that the climate crisis poses a major national security threat, his government faces criticism. Chancellor John Healey is known to view economic growth as taking priority even if it means locking the UK into expensive fossil fuels. Louise Haigh, first secretary of state, and Jonathan Reynolds, business secretary, are thought to share similar views.
Senior insiders have told The Guardian that a series of major decisions with climate implications are being taken largely in isolation, rather than with their cumulative impact in mind. Burnham has no dedicated climate adviser working for him in Downing Street, despite it being an important issue to many voters.
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