The new British government eliminated the nation’s climate change agency this week.
British Prime Minister Theresa May decided to get rid of the Department of Energy and Climate Change and turn its duties over to the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the BBC reported Thursday.
While many environmentalists were alarmed by the decision, the head of Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy sought to assure Britons that climate change remained on the government’s agenda.
“I am thrilled to have been appointed to lead this new department charged with delivering a comprehensive industrial strategy, leading government’s relationship with business, furthering our world-class science base, delivering affordable, clean energy and tackling climate change,” Greg Clark said, according to the BBC.
The Department of Energy and Climate Change was responsible for negotiating climate deals with other countries, including the United Nations talks in Paris that resulted in the world’s first climate change agreement in December. It’s unknown at this point how the elimination of that department will affect the U.K.’s quest to ratify the agreement.
In an interview with the BBC, a leading environmentalist said the decision to eliminate the department showed climate change will not be as high on the new government’s agenda.
“Less than a day into the job and it appears that the new prime minister has already downgraded action to tackle climate change, one of the biggest threats we face,” said Craig Bennett, chief executive of Friends of the Earth.
“If Theresa May supports strong action on climate change, as she’s previously said, it’s essential that this is made a top priority for the new business and energy department and across government.”
