PM cites South Wales arc furnace and offshore wind in COP31 speech

Prime Minister Andy Burnham used his first COP appearance as UK leader to point to industrial projects as evidence of the benefits of electrification. Speaking at the COP31 climate summit on 12 November 2026, he said a government-funded electric arc furnace in South Wales would secure 5,000 steel workers' jobs.

He described the furnace as one of the largest in Europe. No further detail on the project, such as timing or cost, was given in the speech.

Mr Burnham argued that depending on energy the UK does not control leaves families and businesses exposed to prices they cannot control. He said two wars across two continents had pushed up fuel prices and gas bills, and that the shift to clean energy was the only route to energy security.

He said the UK had given the go-ahead to two major offshore wind projects on 11 November. According to the Prime Minister, these will bring billions of pounds of investment, power millions of homes and support thousands of jobs. He also said Rolls-Royce is taking small modular nuclear reactor technology around the world, supporting thousands more jobs.

The Prime Minister said electrification in transport, heat and industry is how clean power becomes cheap power. He noted that the government is investing in innovation and subsidising upfront costs for the public, but said industry also needs to help people on all incomes make the transition.

Mr Burnham reaffirmed the UK's commitment to its 2050 net zero target.