UK Appoints Madeleine Alessandri as Special Representative for Climate Security

The UK government has appointed Madeleine Alessandri as its special representative for climate security, a post the Guardian describes as the first of its kind in the world. The role is designed to advise the government on national security risks arising from the climate crisis.

Alessandri currently chairs the Joint Intelligence Committee, a senior body that oversees the UK's intelligence agencies MI5 and MI6. She will take on the new role alongside that position, according to the same report.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham is expected to announce the appointment on Thursday at Cop31, the UN climate summit being held in Turkey. Burnham arrived in Antalya, the Turkish resort city hosting the talks, late on Wednesday night.

Cop31 is presided over jointly by Turkey and Australia. At the summit, Burnham will confirm UK support for a proposed target of 35% electrification by 2035, meaning a larger share of total energy use supplied by electricity. He will also back plans to raise £5bn in private finance for clean energy projects around the world.