As part of a reshuffle of government departments, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has appointed Grant Shapps as the secretary of state for the new Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has split up as part of the reorganisation. During his campaign for Conservative leader last summer, Sunak promised to re-establish a standalone department for energy.
The government says the new Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has been tasked with securing the country’s “long-term energy supply, bringing down bills and halving inflation”.
In an announcement, the government says the shake-up recognises the “significant impact” rising prices have had on households across the country and the need to secure more energy from domestic nuclear and renewable sources to “seize the opportunities” of net zero.
We need to combat the idea that it costs you money to go green.
Previously, the new Energy Security and Net Zero, Grant Shapps has said that “we need to combat the idea that it costs you money to go green”.
In an interview with the think tank for liberal conservatism Bright Blue, Shapps challenged the idea that going green will cause costs to rise, stating that “it can actually be good value for money”.
When Shapps, the MP for Welwyn Hatfield, was Business Secretary he said: “Green means growth, and with our existing talents in clean technologies, UK businesses could be world leaders in an industry that will only expand, creating jobs for generations to come while also protecting our precious planet.”
CIWM is encouraged by the UK government’s announcement today that there will be a new Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
Commenting on the reshape, Policy and External Affairs Director, CIWM, Lee Marshall, said: “CIWM is encouraged by the UK government’s announcement today that there will be a new Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
“CIWM is on its own journey to Net Zero, as set out in our Net Zero Roadmap, and is working to support the resources and waste sector as it continues to reduce carbon emissions.
“Policies that support the move to a circular economy will be key for the new Department, in conjunction with the Department for Business and Trade and the new Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
“Resources and waste professionals are at the heart of the circular economy and have a major role to play in helping to achieve net zero.”
