The UK government has established a pioneering national security position, appointing the world’s first special representative for climate security to advise Downing Street on climate-related threats.
Madeleine Alessandri, currently chair of the joint intelligence committee, will step into the newly created role. The appointment reflects growing concern among officials that accelerating climate breakdown poses severe, cascading risks to national stability and international security.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham is set to officially announce the move on Thursday at the COP31 United Nations climate summit. The special representative is tasked with identifying and mitigating climate-driven security risks before they escalate into crises.
