The delay to appoint a chair of the Climate Change Committee (CCC) is deemed “inexplicable” after the initial deadline of November 2023 passed.
In a letter to prime minister Rishi Sunak which was leaked to the Observer, climate experts have condemned the “excessive delay” in finding a replacement to the previous CCC chair Lord Deben.
The government was set to appoint a new chair in November 2023, following more than a year of and a half of succession planning.
“Given that the recruitment of the new chair began 18 months ago it is inexplicable that the appointment has still not been announced,” wrote Granthan Research Institute head of policy Bob Ward.
The work of the committee is at a “critical stage”, he added.
“It is not helpful that it does not yet have a new chair as it carries out this work.”
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A government spokesperson told the Observer it remained committed to existing climate change targets and is on track to meet net zero in 2050.
The spokesperson also said they would appoint a permanent CCC chair “in due course”.
“It seems to be yet another signal that the government does not take climate change policy seriously enough,” said Granthan Research Institute chair Lord Stern.
“All this is damaging the confidence of other countries and of investors in the UK’s commitment to climate action.”
Lord Deben agreed that his replacement was needed as soon as possible, as the committee is due to start work on the seventh carbon budget soon – something which he predicts will “take a couple of years”.
“The budget must be agreed by the first half of 2025 and be built on robust analysis and rigorous involvement by the committee,” added Ward.
“The fact it will still not have a chairman in place by 2024 to direct this work is deeply concerning.”
