UK appoints world-first climate security envoy

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced Thursday the appointment of a world-first special envoy for "climate security" to address growing global warming impacts, citing recent record wildfires and heatwaves. Burnham, the only G7 leader at COP31 in Antalya, Turkey, named former Joint Intelligence Committee head Dame Madeleine Alessandri to the role, saying climate is a national security issue requiring better preparedness and resilience. Experts at E3G called the appointment a first that elevates the issue, while Greenpeace welcomed it but criticized Burnham's recent approval of North Sea gas drilling, urging his actions match his words.