Responding to Prime Minister Andy Burnham's speech at COP31, Amayaa Wijesinghe, Senior Resilience and Climate Adviser at ActionAid UK, said:
"The Prime Minister's speech offered some encouraging signals, particularly on using G20 leadership to accelerate climate action, but fell short of providing real hope. It matters that he showed up at COP31 when most other G7 leaders stayed away, but climate leadership demands more than turning up.
"Warm words on electrification and private investment won't protect the rights of women and girls bearing the greatest burden of a crisis they did little to create. The UK must deliver public, grant-based climate finance that reaches them directly, including funding for adaptation in communities where private investors simply won't go. A clean energy transition that isn’t a just transition leaves the most marginalised behind.
“The appointment of a special representative for climate security recognises the growing threats people face. But real safety and security starts fromshared wellbeing. It means investing in adaptation, economic justice, supporting public services and recognition of a care economy. And it means women and girls leading, including in shaping the new envoy’s work. “The UK cannot champion climate justice internationally while approving new fossil fuel projects at home. With UK climate finance falling short, the Prime Minister must now restore public funding and use the UK's G20 presidency to put climate justice at the heart of global action. Real leadership means putting those paying the highest price for the climate crisis first.”
To arrange an interview, please contact the press office at uk.media@actionaid.org or on +44 7753 973 486
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