The Climate Change Act ten years on: the global gold standard

The Whitehouse Consultancy announces next Whitehouse Briefing Room event

The Climate Change Act ten years on: the global gold standard

House of Commons, Monday 26th November, 4.30-6pm

 

London and Brussels-based communications agency, The Whitehouse Consultancy, will hold its next Whitehouse Briefing Room event in the House of Commons on Monday with The Climate Change Act ten years on: the global gold standard.

 

The event will be chaired by Adam Vaughan, Energy Editor for The Guardian, and features Lord Deben, Chair of the Committee on Climate Change, and Sir Edward Davey MP, former Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, speaking about progress made since the Act and the challenges facing UK industry in the next decade.

 

Meryam Omi, Head of Sustainability and Responsible Investment Strategy at Legal & General Investment Management, and the Bishop of Salisbury, Chair of the Church of England’s Environmental Working Group and lead Bishop for Environmental Affairs, will complete the lineup.

 

Monday’s panel will examine examples of best practice, including the power sector which has delivered 75% of the UK’s total decarbonisation since 2012; and discuss how poorer performing industries such as transport, construction and agriculture can dramatically reduce carbon emissions.

 

Lord Deben, Chair of the Committee on Climate Change, said:

“The Act has been a clear success, emissions have fallen and the renewables economy has grown. But we continue to see changes to growing seasons and more extreme weather events, and it is time for government to guide us to the next stage.

 

“We must transform our car fleet; improve energy efficiency in new houses; wean ourselves off fossil-fuel heat in homes and industry; and reduce emissions in farming by reforming the way we use land.”

 

Meryam Omi, Head of Sustainability and Responsible Investment Strategy at Legal & General Investment Management, said:

‘A successful transition to a low-carbon economy will require over $2 trillion of energy investment. Clear policy direction from governments and regulators is needed to shift capital at scale, thereby making sustainable investing the mainstream norm.” 

 

Chris Whitehouse, Chair of the Whitehouse Consultancy, said:

“We are delighted to hold our next Whitehouse Briefing Room event, an important and timely discussion of Climate Change. Even as we celebrate 10 years since the landmark Act, this is a critical debate for policymakers.

 

“The recent UN IPCC report has highlighted the need to drastically increase the pace of decarbonisation and it is clear that urgent collaboration is needed between governments, industry and academia to protect our planet for future generations.

 

“We are lucky to be able to bring together a strong panel with a unique set of perspectives and experience. The event will see them interrogate the steps that government and industry are taking and the likelihood of meeting adequate targets in the next 12 years.”

 

The Whitehouse Briefing Room series is a programme of events designed by Whitehouse to explore the state of play across UK policy as we see the long-term impact of fundamental political and economic shifts on the global stage. In the coming year, Whitehouse will bring together top-level expertise from politics, industry, media and academia to discuss opportunities and challenges for the energy, food and drink, health, education, and creative sectors with the aim of fostering fruitful and prescient debate.

 

ENDS

 

For more information and press access:

Stephen Roberts: stephen.roberts@whitehousecomms.com / 020 7061 6488 / 07488 713071

@Whitehouse_PA / #WhitehouseBriefingRoom / #ClimateChangeAct

 

About the Whitehouse Consultancy

The Whitehouse Consultancy is an award-winning issues-led communications agency with decades of experience in public affairs, press and media relations, stakeholder engagement, crisis communications and training.

The Whitehouse Consultancy supports long-term business and policy objectives; and runs high-profile campaigns for clients in the private, public and charitable sectors that influence public opinion, influence policy, legislation and regulations and build support among key opinion formers and decision makers. The company has offices in London and Brussels covering clients’ communication needs at the local, national and European level.

Whitehouse is one of the leading public affairs and communications specialists in renewable energy and environment policy, with clients operating in the solar, battery storage, biofuel and biomass, food waste, anaerobic digestion, waste oil, onshore wind and electric vehicle sectors. Whitehouse’s award-winning team provides political and communications guidance and support to energy businesses of all sizes; ranging from international corporations to small-scale generators.

https://whitehousecomms.com/

 

Panelists:

Adam Vaughan

Adam is the Energy Editor for the Guardian with 17 years of experience covering energy, the environment and technology.

 

Lord Deben

Chairman of the Committee on Climate Change Lord Deben was the UK’s longest-serving Secretary of State for the Environment (1993 to 1997). In addition to this he has held several other high-level ministerial posts, including Secretary of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1989 to 1993).

Lord Deben has consistently championed the strong links between environmental concerns and business interests. He currently has the following roles:

  • Chairing Sancroft, a corporate responsibility consultancy which he founded working with blue-chip companies around the world to help them improve their environmental, social and ethical impact.
  • Chairman of Valpak Limited.
  • Chairman of Personal Investment Management and Financial Advice Association.

 

Sir Edward Davey MP

Sir Edward Davey is the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Kingston and Surbiton. Between 2012 and 2015 Edward was the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change. In this role Edward was responsible for introducing what became the Energy Act 2013 that introduced Electricity Market Reform, including the Capacity Market and the Contract for Difference scheme that has been pivotal to decarbonising UK power.

 

The Bishop of Salisbury

The Right Revd Nicholas Holtam has been Bishop of Salisbury since 2011.  Prior to his appointment to Salisbury, he was Vicar of St Martin in the Fields for 16 years.  Bishop Nicholas is the Church of England’s Lead Bishop on the Environment and speaks on this topic regularly in the House of Lords.

 

Meryam Omi

Meryam is responsible for integrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) aspects into the investment and engagement process and for creating responsible investment product solutions. Meryam has over 13 years of asset management experience, starting her career as a business proposal writer for fixed income funds. After joining LGIM in 2008, she has been essential to establishing its engagement programme on key sustainability topics. Meryam has led the launch of funds in the pioneering Future World range, as well as the Climate Impact Pledge, which is LGIM’s commitment to engage and act on climate change.