UK’s Department of Energy and Climate Change scrapped by new PM

Tunbridge Wells MP and former Communities Secretary Greg Clark has been appointed as Secretary of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy as UK’s new Prime Minister Theresa May scraps the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) eight years after its creation. The department is being merged with Clark’s new one.

In its eight years, DECC has seen four secretaries of state, implemented world-leading legislation to tackle climate change, an increased deployment of renewables, attempts to get a fracking industry off the ground and a promise to phase out coal.

“I am thrilled to have been appointed to lead this new department charged with delivering a comprehensive industrial strategy, leading Government’s relationship with business, furthering our world-class science base, delivering affordable, clean energy and tackling climate change,” Clark said.

Environmentalists and various politicians reacted with dismay to the “shocking” news, fearing that the reshaping of the departments shows that the government is downgrading climate change as a priority.

Green Party MP Caroline Lucas describes the change as a “deeply worrying move” from the new prime minister. “Climate change is the biggest challenge we face, and it must not be an afterthought for the government,” she said. “Dealing with climate change requires a dedicated minister at the Cabinet table. To throw it into the basement of another Whitehall department looks like a serious backwards step.”

But others have a more positive view on the news. Chief executive of renewable energy company Good Energy, Juliet Davenport, said: “In some ways, the name above the door of the civil service department doesn’t matter.

“But now the Government needs to prove that climate change isn’t slipping down the agenda. I want to see concrete action to transform our energy system and clear policies for meeting the UK’s decarbonization commitments.”

Richard Black, director of the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), welcomed the new secretary, saying the move was “an excellent appointment”.

“He understands climate change, and has written influential papers on the benefits of Britain developing a low-carbon economy.

“Importantly, he sees that economic growth and tackling climate change are bedfellows not opponents – and he now has the opportunity to align British industry, energy and climate policy in a way that’s never been done before.”