New Chair of Climate Change Committee says net zero can make UK economy more successful
Wed 23 July 2025
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Nigel Topping CMG has been appointed as Chair of the Climate Change Committee by the UK and devolved governments. He succeeds Professor Piers Forster who has served for two years as interim Chair since Lord Deben stepped down from the role.
Following a pre-appointment hearing with the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee and members of the Environmental Audit Committee on July 16, Nigel Topping was approved for the role and starts on 23 July.
Nigel has served on the CCC since May 2023. Prior to that he was the UN’s Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP26, and the UNFCCC’s Global Ambassador on the ‘Race to Zero’ and the ‘Race to Resilience’. He brings nearly 20 years’ experience in the private sector to the role.
The Chair plays a key role in the Committee’s work of advising government on the delivery of its carbon budgets, with a critical few years ahead as the government accelerates to net zero as part of its 'clean energy superpower mission'.
Announcing the appointment, Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband, said: "We highly value the Climate Change Committee’s independent advice on how we can achieve net zero, so I am thrilled to have Nigel in this important role – as he brings extensive experience, including from his time serving as the UN High Level Climate Action Champion for COP26.
"Net zero is the economic opportunity of the 21st century and Nigel’s business expertise will help us to maximise on this opportunity as we deliver our clean energy superpower mission – boosting energy security, creating good jobs, bringing down bills and tackling the climate crisis."
Nigel Topping said: "It is an honour to be appointed Chair of the Climate Change Committee at this pivotal moment. The UK has an opportunity to deliver on its climate commitments in a way that reduces costs for households, powers our industries forward, and makes our economy more successful. It’s also important to ensure resilience against growing climate impacts and I look forward to working with Baroness Brown who leads our adaptation work.
"I am committed to upholding the rigour and independent nature of the Committee’s advice, while harnessing our country’s wealth of scientific, financial and business talent."
Nigel Topping’s selection follows a competitive recruitment process in line with the Governance Code for Public Appointments.
Nigel Topping's predecessor as Chair of the CCC was former Environment Secretary Lord Deben, who served in the role for the full legal term of ten years. Lord Deben now chairs the Zemo Partnership-convened Council for Net Zero Transport, bringing his experience of working in and of advising government to focus on decarbonising transport, now one of the two key priority sectors in terms of the net zero transition.
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