Nigel Topping has today been appointed as chair of the Climate Change Committee (CCC) following a competitive recruitment process.
The announcement comes after UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, along with the Northern Irish, Welsh and Scottish devolved government ministers, selected Topping (pictured) as the preferred candidate for the role.
Miliband has written to Topping to confirm his appointment. The Energy Secretary has also written to Professor Piers Forster to thank him for his leadership as interim chair of the CCC following Lord Deben’s departure in 2023.
The new chair will play a key role in the committee’s work of advising government on the delivery of its carbon budgets, with a critical few years ahead as the UK accelerates to net zero as part of its clean energy superpower mission.
Miliband said: “I want to congratulate Nigel Topping on his appointment as chair of the Climate Change Committee.
“We highly value the Climate Change Committee’s independent advice on how we can achieve net zero, so I am thrilled to have Nigel in this important role – as he brings extensive experience, including from his time serving as the UN High Level Climate Action Champion for COP26.
“Net zero is the economic opportunity of the 21st century and Nigel’s business expertise will help us to maximise on this opportunity as we deliver our clean energy superpower mission – boosting energy security, creating good jobs, bringing down bills and tackling the climate crisis.”
Topping said: “It is an honour to be appointed chair of the Climate Change Committee at this pivotal moment.
“The UK has an opportunity to deliver on its climate commitments in a way that reduces costs for households, powers our industries forward, and makes our economy more successful.
“It’s also important to ensure resilience against growing climate impacts and I look forward to working with Baroness Brown who leads our adaptation work.
“I’d like to offer my sincere thanks to Professor Piers Forster, who has been our interim chair since Lord Deben stepped down. He has led the committee through an incredibly busy period overseeing advice on the UK’s Seventh Carbon Budget, three devolved carbon budgets, and a number of key progress reports to government.
“I am committed to upholding the rigour and independent nature of the committee’s advice, while harnessing our country’s wealth of scientific, financial and business talent.”