LABOUR’S new climate envoy Rachel Kyte is co-chair of the advisory board of a foundation linked with the offshore trust that donated £4 million to the party shortly before the general election, it has emerged.

The Quadrature Climate Foundation is fully funded by Quadrature Capital, a hedge fund based in the Cayman Islands which invests in fossil fuel firms.

Ms Kyte, also former climate chief at the World Bank, told the Guardian that the government has an “opportunity to use international action to help deliver on the UK’s energy mission.”

She said challenges included “mobilising the financing to protect people and drive greener growth” adding that there “is no time like now for the UK to help drive action.”

Her official title will be UK special representative for climate.

She will co-ordinate Britain’s relations with other donor countries, aiming to forge alliances with developing countries as well as India and China.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has been contacted for comment.