However, while the UK used to have a separate Energy Department, in 2016 this was merged with the Business Department under then prime minister Theresa May, a move which sparked concern among environmentalists and jubilation among climate change sceptics.
The Climate Change Committee, which reviews the government’s progress in reducing emissions in line with climate targets, found in its most recent assessment that current plans are unlikely to achieve by 2050. The decision to create a dedicated climate department in last month’s cabinet reshuffle has consequently been welcomed by climate bodies and politicians alike.
The newly-established Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, led by Grant Shapps, already has a lot on its plate – here’s what we can expect to see top the policy agenda.
Securing the UK’s energy independence
The shockwaves created in the global energy market by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine drove home the necessity of a stable and independent domestic energy market. Earlier this month, Shapps met the US Energy Secretary in London, with the two ministers pledging to explore new avenues for international collaboration to deliver clearer, cheaper energy.
In practice, this means strengthening the UK’s domestic nuclear and energy industries to reduce its vulnerability to volatile fossil fuel markets. The UK is one of the world’s largest markets for offshore wind, second only to China, and a record 40 per cent of the country’s electricity was generated from renewable sources last year, primarily solar, wind, biomass and hydropower.
Nevertheless, breaking the addiction to imported oil and gas calls for major financial and ideological investment from policymakers.
The Biden administration recently signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law, a piece of legislation lauded by the renewables industry which marks the single largest investment in climate and energy in US history. The act introduces several measures aimed at boosting growth in the US clean energy market, including expanded tax credits for renewables manufacturers and initiatives to streamline the planning, permitting and execution of renewable energy projects. Whether the UK government will follow suit with comparable legislation remains to be seen.