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Adair Turner appointed to head climate committee

   

NEWS RELEASE

Ref: 22/08
Date: 28 January 2008

Business leader Adair Turner has been named as the first Chair of the new Committee on Climate Change, Environment Secretary Hilary Benn announced today.

Lord Turner, former Director-General of the CBI and a director of Standard Chartered Bank, will head the high-profile new body, being established under the Climate Change Bill. The Committee will provide independent, expert advice on how the UK can best meet its climate change goals.

Mr Benn said:

“The Committee on Climate Change will play a central role in our push towards achieving a low-carbon economy in Britain. The Government will rely on its detailed, expert advice to ensure we tackle our CO2 emissions over the next four decades, to ensure we avoid dangerous climate change.

“I am delighted that Adair Turner has agreed to lead the Committee’s work. His wide-ranging expertise will be invaluable in this task and I look forward to working with him.”

Lord Turner said:

“Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time, but we can mitigate its effects at manageable economic cost provided we take early and effective action.  The Climate Change Bill commits the UK to stretching emission reduction targets and the Committee will have a vital role in advising how to achieve them.  I am delighted to have been asked to chair it.”

This expert body will advise on the pathway to 2050 by giving advice on the level of carbon budgets, on how much effort should be made in the UK and overseas and how domestic effort should be spread across the economy.

It will also review the UK’s target to reduce CO2 emissions by at least 60 per cent by 2050 to see whether it should be tightened up to 80 per cent, as announced by the Prime Minister last year.

The Committee will also report annually to Parliament and the Devolved Administrations on the UK’s progress towards meetings its emissions reduction targets.

Alongside the Chair will be five to eight members, bringing together world class experts from the fields of climate science and policy, economics, business and financial management.

Lord Jonathan Adair Turner

Jonathan Adair Turner, Baron Turner of Ecchinswell is a British businessman, academic, and currently is chairman to the Economic and Social Research Council. He is also currently a non-executive director for a number of notable business groups including, Standard Chartered plc, United Business Media plc, Siemens plc, Paternoster Ltd. Adair Turner is a former chair of the Low Pay Commission and Pensions Commission, former Director-General of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), a former vice chairman of Merrill Lynch Europe, and a former advisor to Climate Change Capital.

Notes to editors

  1. The Committee on Climate Change is being established as a high-profile independent statutory body. It will be the first of its kind, bringing together different strands of expertise from the fields of climate science and policy, economics, business competitiveness and financial management. It will draw on existing information and undertake its own analysis to provide expert advice to Ministers.
  1. The Committee will be sponsored by the UK Government and the Devolved Administrations and will be able to appoint its own staff.
  1. To ensure the Committee is able to provide its advice on the first three carbon budgets by September 2008, as required in the Bill currently before Parliament, the Committee will initially be set up as a “shadow”, non-statutory body, with its membership rolling over into the statutory body following Royal Assent.
  1. The appointment process has been regulated and monitored by the Commissioner for Public Appointments to ensure that it has been made on merit against established criteria and after fair and open competition.  This process is also in accordance with the Nolan Principles

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Page modified: 4 February 2008
Page published: 28 January 2008