Government launches new energy and climate department

Source: Energy Digital

Date :03/10/2008 16:31:29

Gordon Brown’s government reshuffle has seen the creation of a new energy and climate department headed by Ed Miliband.

The UK’s former energy and climate strategy was divided between two separate teams but now the move to a single department has seen groups like Green Alliance praise the beginning of a more “joined-up” approach.

Julian Oram, Head of Policy at the World Development Movement, said: “This new department must be the department of new clarity on climate change and energy, not contradiction.”

He added that the government’s policies thus far on these two issues had been “at loggerheads”.

Meanwhile, the CBI described the issues as “vital national interests” and said that they both required urgent action.

The renewable energy industry has also welcomed the appointment of Ed Miliband in the new department.

“We have been calling for this strategy for some time, most recently in our submission last week to the Renewable Energy Strategy,” said Director General, Philip Wolfe. “In particular, we look forward to measures for renewable heat, which can be included in the renewable energy tariff being considered in the current Energy Bill.”

The government is yet to announce the department’s title or the members of the ministerial team.