New United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May has decided to mix things up in the cabinet including scrapping the nation’s Department of Energy and Climate Change. The new Conservative Party PM announced Thursday the creation of a new department, the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, which will be led by former Secretary of State for the Department for Communities and Local Government Greg Clark.
It was not immediately clear when the announcement was made what department, if any, would take on climate change issues, inciting a rapid backlash from green groups. The government subsequently clarified that the new department would pick up those duties. “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 in a written statement.
Regardless, the move suggests climate issues will not be a priority for the new government, green groups said. “This is shocking news. Less than a day into the job and it appears that the new Prime Minister has already downgraded action to tackle climate change, one of the biggest threats we face,” Friends of the Earth CEO Craig Bennett said in a press release.
“The energy and climate change department has been broken up and put back together without the name ‘climate change.’ Although, some might say ‘what’s in a name’, there is a very real worry that the progress made on tackling climate change could be relegated to the bottom of the in-tray. Business, energy, and industrial strategy must have green innovation and job creation at its heart,” said John Sauven, Greenpeace U.K. executive director.
May was named Prime Minister on Wednesday following the resignation of PM David Cameron in the wake of the United Kingdom’s June 23 referendum vote to exit the European Union. The “Brexit” threw world markets into turmoil and raised questions about what role EU policies will have in the U.K. after the transition, which will take at least two years, is complete.
The threat to DECC was foreshadowed Wednesday with the announcement that Amber Rudd, former secretary for the department, had been appointed secretary of state for the Home Department.
Andrea Leadsom, who held the position of minister of state for energy at DECC, also got a new position in the shuffle. She will now serve as secretary of state for environment, food, and rural affairs.
