As Andy Burnham stands on the threshold of 10 Downing Street, the former mayor of Greater Manchester faces mounting pressure to clarify his stance on the climate crisis. Wildfires have cast a pall of smoke over his home city this week, while three heatwaves so far this year have killed thousands of people in England and Wales, damaged harvests, and left children crying in overheated classrooms. Yet the incoming prime minister’s environmental agenda remains largely unknown.
Chris Venables, an environmental campaigner and fellow at the Green Alliance thinktank, said Burnham has been notably quiet on the climate crisis. “I don’t think it is at the forefront of his mind, but that does not mean he will water down this agenda,” Venables said. The comments reflect broader uncertainty among green groups about how the new leader will balance climate commitments with other pressing national priorities.
Burnham inherits a complex energy landscape. The UK is grappling with high energy prices, calls for reindustrialisation, and ongoing debates over North Sea drilling. The new prime minister will also face decisions on the country’s net-zero targets, which were set under previous governments but have yet to be fully implemented. Environmentalists are watching closely to see whether Burnham will accelerate or slow the transition away from fossil fuels.
The economic backdrop adds further complexity. The Office for National Statistics reported that gross domestic product rose by 0.1% in May, following a 0.1% contraction in April. While the return to growth is modest, it comes amid global pressures, including tensions with Iran that have affected energy markets. Burnham has been warned that sustaining economic recovery while pursuing ambitious climate policies will require careful navigation.
On fiscal policy, Burnham has commented on whether he plans to tax the super-rich, but has not yet detailed how such measures might fund green investments. Wealth tax proposals have been floated by some in his party, but the prime minister-in-waiting has not committed to any specific plan. This leaves uncertainty over how the government will finance large-scale renewable energy projects, home insulation schemes, and other climate initiatives.
Outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer has predicted that Burnham will maintain the UK’s support for Ukraine, a stance that has implications for energy security and international alliances. Starmer also recently granted a peerage to Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, though Khan is not expected to seek a ministerial role in Burnham’s government. These personnel moves signal continuity in some areas, but the new leader’s environmental direction remains an open question.
Burnham’s record as mayor of Greater Manchester offers some clues. He oversaw the region’s first-ever clean air zone, which charges the most polluting vehicles, and supported the expansion of cycling infrastructure and public transport. However, critics note that the region has missed some of its own carbon reduction targets, and that Burnham has been cautious on issues such as road pricing and low-emission zones.
The broader context is urgent. Climate scientists warn that the UK must cut emissions faster to meet its legally binding net-zero goal by 2050. The recent heatwaves, which have caused thousands of excess deaths, underscore the human cost of inaction. Wildfires in Greater Manchester this week are a stark reminder that no region is immune from the effects of a warming planet.
Burnham’s team has indicated that a full climate strategy will be unveiled in the coming months, but for now, the prime minister-designate is focused on forming a government and addressing immediate economic concerns. Environmental groups are pressing for early signals, including a commitment to end new North Sea oil and gas licences and a boost to renewable energy investment.
The coming weeks will be critical. As the smoke clears over Manchester, the new prime minister must decide how green his premiership will be. The decisions he makes on energy, industry, and taxation will shape the UK’s climate trajectory for years to come.
