UK appoints first special representative for climate security
Dame Madeline Alessandri has been appointed the UK’s first Special Representative for Climate Security. The 18-month role is intended to help bring climate and nature risks into security and foreign-policy decisions, but does not include control over climate spending or operational delivery.
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The UK has appointed Dame Madeline Alessandri as its first Special Representative for Climate Security, with a remit to bring climate and nature risks into national-security and foreign-policy decision-making.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced the appointment in a speech at the COP31 climate summit on 12 November. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office published the role’s terms of reference the same day.
The representative will advise and support ministers, build relationships across government and internationally, and promote UK climate-security priorities. The terms also call for work on contingency planning and efforts to raise awareness of the security consequences of climate change.
The role has defined limits: the representative will not conduct formal negotiations, oversee operational delivery, commission officials or direct climate spending. Those responsibilities remain with ministers, officials and departments, according to the terms.
The appointment is for 18 months, with the possibility of a further 18 months by mutual agreement. The terms say Alessandri will report to the Foreign Secretary.
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