Climate expert Chris Stark appointed to lead UK clean energy taskforce
Climate expert Chris Stark appointed to lead UK clean energy taskforce
‘Mission control centre’ to work with energy companies and regulators towards goal of clean and cheaper power by 2030
cross-posted from: https://feddit.uk/post/14454897
Labour has appointed one of the country’s foremost climate experts to lead a “mission control centre” on clean energy.
Chris Stark, the former head of the UK’s climate watchdog, will head a Covid vaccine-style taskforce aimed at delivering clean and cheaper power by 2030.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said the centre would work with energy companies and regulators and would be the first of its kind in Whitehall, following Keir Starmer’s plan for mission-driven government.
According to this model, ministers will focus on tackling five of the biggest challenges facing the country, one of which is clean energy.
Stark said: “Tackling the climate crisis and accelerating the transition to clean power is the country’s biggest challenge, and its greatest opportunity. By taking action now, we can put the UK at the forefront of the global race to net zero.”
Along with appointing Timpson to the Prisons brief, this is another really good sign of a government that cares more about getting things done than vibes. Although, the vibes are good, too!
Does anyone else feel a bit uneasy that a Key Cutting shop owner is now charge of Prisoners? 🤔🧐
I know you're joking but if it's any consolation any padlocks you own can probably be opened by hitting them on the side.
But yeah as has been mentioned, timpson actively hire those that have been in prison and train them up. He's definitely rehabilitation focused rather than punishment focused, which is great to see.
Considering their progressive stance towards hiring prisoners and providing them skills, I am personally quite happy with the appointment.
The appointment of Patrick Vallance as Science Minister was also a good hire.
This is excellent news. Who knew that you could appoint people who actually know what the fuck they're talking about into roles that are relevant to their expertise. What a time to be alive.
Hey wow, is this what happens when people vote for a government that's actually not opposed to hard truths?
I won’t be holding my breath on anything meaningful changing with drug policy though
Well, take your wins, I suppose.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
Labour has appointed one of the country’s foremost climate experts to lead a “mission control centre” on clean energy.
Stark said: “Tackling the climate crisis and accelerating the transition to clean power is the country’s biggest challenge, and its greatest opportunity.
Some on the right of the Conservative party would have liked to dismantle the 2008 Climate Change Act, under which the committee was set up with the mandate to advise on meeting the five-yearly carbon budgets.
Throughout his six years as chief, he maintained his steady insistence on telling the government truths it did not want to hear – on how far off-track the UK was straying from its climate goals, and how much more it would cost to delay action than to take it now.
Shaun Spiers, executive director of the Green Alliance thinktank, said the appointment would help Labour attract much-needed international investment for its plans.
Reforms to the UK’s planning system have been a focus so far, including the lifting of an effective ban on onshore wind turbines in England, but Spiers said the government would have to look across a much wider range of issues to be successful in decarbonising electricity by 2030.
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the UK’s climate watchdog
That would be the Climate Change Committee, an independent panel of climate advisors. He headed it for several years.