Climate action must work for ‘people on all incomes,’ Burnham tells COP31

ANTALYA, Turkey — World leaders and industry must make electric cars and heat pumps affordable if they are to ensure “people on all incomes” can “make the green transition,” U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham told the COP31 climate summit. During a flying visit to this year's U.N. conference in Turkey, Burnham — who has made affordability his core domestic political focus — reaffirmed the U.K.’s commitment to the goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

But he warned that the world had “not moved as quick as I had hoped in the past five years” to show citizens that climate action and electrification have cost-of-living upsides. “The last of these meetings I attended was COP26 as the mayor of Greater Manchester,” Burnham said, referring to the 2021 summit hosted by the U.K. He warned at the time that the climate movement must not lose sight of the “struggles of ordinary families.” “The world feels very different now, and we need to adapt,” Burnham said.

“Electrification in transport, heat and industry is how we make clean power, cheap power.” While voicing support for COP31 hosts Turkey and Australia’s electrification push, Burnham stopped short of backing the specific target of 35% of global energy use shifting to electricity by 2035. But he emphasized the benefits the switch could bring, while urging industry to help ensure it helped all consumers. “If you drive a new electric car today in the U.K., it costs less than a petrol equivalent.

Get on the right tariff and a heat pump can be cheaper to run than a gas boiler. These technologies are becoming cheaper, but they are not available to everybody on all incomes,” he said. “As a government, we are doing our bit by investing in innovation and subsidizing upfront costs for the public. But we need industry to play their part too, and help people on all incomes to make the green transition.” The focus on EVs and heat pumps comes despite Burnham’s government cutting the subsidy pot for heat pumps at last month's budget.

Ministers are also weighing proposals to water down industry EV quotas. Nonetheless, Burnham reiterated the U.K.’s over-arching strategy to cut dependence on fossil fuels. “The climate crisis is not a distant threat. It is upon us all now, devastating lives and livelihoods everywhere. Meanwhile, two wars across two continents have sent fuel prices and gas bills soaring for families and businesses across the world,” he said. “The common thread running through all of this: our dependence on fossil fuels.”

He announced the U.K. would use its G20 presidency next year to “put climate resilience back on the agenda, with debt, development, and insurance as key issues.” Burnham's government has also created a new role of special representative for climate security, appointing former head of the Joint Intelligence Committee Chair Madeline Alessandri to the post.