Business leaders appointed for Climate Assembly UK

Business leaders from across the UK have been appointed for the UK’s first citizens’ assembly on climate change.

The Climate Assembly UK was commissioned by six cross-party House of Commons Select Committees in summer 2019, in response to the Government’s commitment to meet net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

The Assembly, 110 members strong, are representative of the UK population. In November last year, invitations were sent to 30,000 households randomly selected from across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

The assembly members will meet over four weekends in Spring 2020. They will hear balanced evidence on the choices the UK faces, discuss them, and make recommendations about what the UK should do to become net zero by 2050.

In June this year, following a recommendation by independent advisors the Committee on Climate Change, the UK became the first major economy in the world to adopt a target of reaching net zero emissions by 2050.

Rachel Reeves MP, Chair of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee, said; “Adopting the net zero target was a major milestone for the UK, reflecting the strong cross-party support for action on climate change.”

“We now need to set out a clear roadmap for the actions to achieve net-zero. It’s very clear that we will all need to play a part in meeting this target and that we all share a responsibility to future generations to do so. Finding solutions which are equitable and have public support will be crucial. Parliament needs to work with the people and with Government to address the challenge of climate change.”

Key themes to be discussed at Climate Assembly UK will include how people travel, what people buy and household energy use.

The outcomes of discussions will be presented to the six select committees, who will use it as a basis for detailed work on implementing its recommendations.

Rt Hon Mel Stride MP, Chair of the Treasury Committee, said; “Public concern around climate change is as high as it has ever been and this is a chance for people from all parts of society to come together, to decide how we as a country can best meet our net zero emissions target.”

The UK Climate Assembly will meet for the first time at the end of January and will have three further weekend meetings before the end of March.