# Burnham sets out package of measures to respond to devastating wildfires

By Robert Palmer — 2026-08-14

With Andy Burnham saying Britain has to confront climate change, Robert Palmer – deputy director of Uplift – urges the Prime Minister to stop new drilling.

He said: “As homes burn, the country turns to dust and thousands die in the heatwaves, everyone can see the impact of climate change is hitting right now.

“It is good that the Prime Minister recognises that the root cause of the heatwaves, wildfires and droughts, which are devastating the UK, is climate change. He also argues for a ‘pragmatic approach’ to oil and gas.

“A pragmatic approach would be saying no to new drilling. Burning fossil fuels is what feeds climate change. More domestic drilling would do nothing to bring down bills or improve our energy resilience.

“The Prime Minister must take urgent steps to deal with the root of the problem, stopping major new oil and gas drilling such as the Rosebank and Jackdaw fields.

“Scientists could not be clearer that more drilling will wreck our planet and perpetuate this extreme weather.”

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