UK-GBC and WWF: New Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy

Both WWF UK and the UK Green Building Council have reacted to the formation of the new Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

David Nussbaum, Chief Executive of WWF-UK, said: 

“The new Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy can be a real powerhouse for change, joining up Whitehall teams to progress the resilient, sustainable, and low carbon infrastructure that we urgently need. Climate change must be hard-wired into the new Department. Business and our economy need climate change to be at its very heart.”

Commenting on the new department and the appointment of Greg Clark MP as its Secretary of State, Julie Hirigoyen, CEO of the UK Green Building Council, said:

“The newly created Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy represents a golden opportunity to put sustainable business at the heart of jobs and prosperity. We warmly welcome the appointment of Greg Clark as its Secretary of State. As a priority he needs to provide reassurance to businesses so they can invest with confidence in a low carbon future.

“However, the loss of a dedicated climate change department has the potential to send the wrong signal to the international community.  The Government needs to reconfirm its commitment to the Paris Agreement at the earliest opportunity.”