Claire Coutinho has risen at lightening speed through the Tory party ranks to become the youngest member of the cabinet.
However, from questions around the oil industry (owing to the Prime Minister’s expansion of drilling), to concerns around changing leadership in the government and whether she’ll listen to scientists, she faces a tough job.
To make a (renewably produced, we hope) spark in her new role as energy secretary, she’ll have to take note of what opposition ministers and campaigners are saying. In summary:
The opposition: The government needs to show more leadership
Shadow energy secretary Ed Miliband, who has been vocal on issues such as green jobs, said “I congratulate Claire Coutinho on her appointment as energy secretary. But it speaks volumes about the failures of Tory policy that we are now onto the 6th Secretary of State since 2019”
“Reshuffling of the deckchairs will not deliver the proper energy policy Britain needs.”
I congratulate Claire Coutinho on her appointment as Energy Secretary.
But it speaks volumes about the failures of Tory policy that we are now onto the 6th Secretary of State since 2019.
Reshuffling of the deckchairs will not deliver the proper energy policy Britain needs.
— Ed Miliband (@Ed_Miliband) August 31, 2023
Meanwhile Green Party MP Caroline Lucas took a critical note on her voting record: “Congrats to Claire Coutinho as new Energy Secretary – who’s mentioned climate change a grand total of 3 times in parliamentary debates – not exactly inspiring my confidence!”
“It’s vital she does a better job than her (many) predecessors and can start by ruling out #Rosebank”
Congrats to Claire Coutinho as new Energy Secretary – who’s mentioned climate change a grand total of 3 times in parliamentary debates – not exactly inspiring my confidence! It’s vital she does a better job than her (many) predecessors – and can start by ruling out #Rosebank
— Caroline Lucas (@CarolineLucas) August 31, 2023
Subscribe to Sustainability Beat for free
Sign up here to get the latest sustainability news sent straight to your inbox everyday
Urged to pick up the pace on housing and retrofit
Reacting to the new appointment the UK Green Building council said:
“We welcome the new Secretary of State to one of the most critical roles in government for tackling the UK’s energy security crisis and climate emergency,” said UKBGC deputy chief executive Simon McWhirte
“Our members are committed to working with the Secretary of State to deliver the decisive and far-reaching action promised by the creation of DESNez, particularly accelerating progress on energy efficiency and upgrading Britain’s homes”
“As deeply troubling assessments from the Climate Change Committee and others have recently shown, the government needs to re-prioritise net zero to get us back on track to meet our climate commitments and salvage the myriad opportunities of a greener, cleaner future.”
Will she join forces and listen to scientists?
Wildlife expert Chris Packham took to twitter to congratulate Claire Coutinho and encouraged her to meet with scientists outside parliament this coming Monday (September 4):
“It’s your first day at work in an important new post, any chance you could come out say a few words and indeed listen to a few words from our scientists. That would be a great way to get off on the right foot we think, so you’d be most welcome there.”
“I’d love to meet you myself and offer those congratulations and see if we can work together to improve our strategies when it comes to addressing this most urgent issue of our times”.
It’s time to demand #NoNewOil from the new Secretary of State for Energy Security & Net Zero , @ClaireCoutinho
Please email Claire to ask she meets with scientists outside Parliament on Mon 4th Sept , 12-3pm → claire.coutinho.mp@parliament.uk
Please RT ! pic.twitter.com/syaLoJwbn3
— Chris Packham (@ChrisGPackham) September 1, 2023
A note of cautious optimism?
Packham wasn’t the only one to take a positive tone regarding Coutinho’s appointment.
Whilst Coutinho has been called out for her voting record, Greenpeace campaigner Doug Parr took a hopeful tone:“We don’t envy the new energy secretary’s job. She’s picked up the baton for the final leg of a relay where her fellow runners have mostly been walking, sometimes backwards.”
“Her department has a huge amount of catching up to do to tackle both the energy and climate challenges in her new job title”
“Fortunately, there are plenty of things that will deliver on both, from removing absurd blockages to cheap renewables to fixing our energy-wasting homes and bringing our power grid into the 21st century. In her maiden speech, Claire Coutinho described renewables as ‘one of the most remarkable success stories in the UK today”
“Perhaps she could persuade the prime minister to build on that success story instead of blocking it. If she can do that, it’ll be good news for bill payers, the climate and the economy. We wish her best of luck.”
Meanwhile, Just Stop Oil urged her to get going: “Congratulations Claire Coutinho you have an historic opportunity to bring the UK’s energy infrastructure into the 21st century.”
“It’s time to stop licensing more dirty fuels and start the transition to renewables. Stop new oil and gas”.
Congratulations @ClaireCoutinho — you have an historic opportunity to bring the UK’s energy infrastructure into the 21st century.
It’s time to stop licensing more dirty fuels and start the transition to renewables. Stop new oil and gas. https://t.co/LhmUeviPqH
— Just Stop Oil (@JustStop_Oil) August 31, 2023
