Monday 3 December 2018

New climate scientist joins Committee on Climate Change

Energy and Clean Growth Minister Claire Perry has appointed Professor Piers Forster to join the Committee on Climate Change (CCC).

He is the director of the Priestley International Centre for Climate and Professor of Physical Climate Change at the University of Leeds and will take up the post of climate scientist on the Committee for five years.

Professor Forster has played a significant role authoring reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and currently has a co-ordinating lead author role for the IPCC sixth assessment report.

He also established the United Bank of Carbon, a forest protection and research charity and has a number of roles advising industry, including membership of the Rolls-Royce Environment Advisory Board.

He replaces founding CCC member Sir Brian Hoskins, who recently stood down after 10 years of service.

Professor Forster said: “Sir Brian taught me as a PhD student and is someone I have huge respect for. I am humbled to be following in his footsteps. I am thrilled to be taking up this post on the 10th anniversary of the UK’s Climate Change Act. The Act and the Committee have done a great job in helping the UK establish itself as a world leader in reducing emissions. However, the challenging ‘teenage years’ are just around the corner and the Committee has some important work to do on long-term targets and evidence based solutions that, if we get it right, will help the transition to a zero carbon UK.

“Although climate change is a global problem, many of its solutions need to be implemented at a local level, and I am keen to learn best practice from the cities, rural communities and businesses of the UK. I can’t wait to roll up my sleeves and get started!”