Feb 22, 2008 -- M2 PRESSWIRE

The first five members of the independent Committee on Climate Change were today announced by Environment Secretary Hilary Benn.

Scientists Sir Brian Hoskins and Lord Robert May, technologist Professor Jim Skea and economists Dr Sam Fankhauser and Professor Michael Grubb will make up the new Committee, headed by the newly-appointed Chair designate Adair Turner.

The Committee, being established under the Climate Change Bill currently before Parliament, will provide independent, expert advice on how the UK can best meet its climate change goals.

Mr Benn said:

"The Committee will be a fundamental pillar of the way we tackle climate change from now until 2050. The founding members of the Committee are leading experts in their fields, and they will make an vital contribution in our efforts to build a low carbon Britain."

Lord Turner said:

"With a strong scientific and technical make up I am confident that this Committee will provide a high standard of evidence-based advice, founded on openness, transparency and engagement.

"This wide-ranging expertise and experience will prove invaluable. The Committee will play a crucial role in our efforts towards achieving a low-carbon economy. I am delighted to chair a Committee of such distinguished experts."

The Committee will advise on the pathway to achieving the Bill's target to reduce CO2 emissions by at least 60 per cent by 2050 by giving advice on the level of carbon budgets, on how much effort should be made in the UK and overseas and how domestic effort should be spread across the economy.

It will also review the 2050 target to see whether it should be tightened up to 80 per cent and look at the implications of including international aviation and shipping emissions, which will now be a statutory review as announced earlier this week.

Another key part of the Committee's role will be to report annually to Parliament and the Devolved Administrations on the UK's progress towards meetings its emissions reduction targets.

Initially, the Committee will consist of the Chair and 5 members.

Further members will be appointed when the Committee becomes an independent statutory body, following Royal Assent of the Climate Change Bill.

Appointments will be for a duration of five years and are made in accordance with the OCPA Code of Practice.

The full committee is:

Lord Jonathan Adair Turner (Chair)

Jonathan Adair Turner, Baron Turner of Ecchinswell is a British businessman, academic, and currently is chairman to the Economic and Social Research Council. He is also currently a non-executive director for a number of notable business groups including, Standard Chartered plc, United Business Media plc, Siemens plc, Paternoster Ltd. Adair Turner is a former chair of the Low Pay Commission and Pensions Commission, former Director-General of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), a former vice chairman of Merrill Lynch Europe, and a former advisor to Climate Change Capital.

Sir Brian Hoskins

Brian Hoskins is a dynamical meteorologist and climatologist based at the University of Reading and Imperial College London where he is the Director of the Grantham Institute for Climate Change. He is also currently a Royal Society Research Professor, a non-executive member of the Met Office Board and a member of the Rolls Royce Environmental Advisory Board. He was involved in the development of the Stern Review and the latest IPCC Scientific Assessment and has been a special advisor to a Secretary of State for Transport on global environmental matters.

Lord Robert May

Lord May is an ecologist with a particular interest in climate change.

He holds a Professorship jointly at Oxford University and Imperial College and is a Fellow of Merton College, Oxford. He was President of The Royal Society (2000-2005) and before that Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK Government and Head of the UK Office of Science and Technology.

Professor Jim Skea

Jim Skea is currently Research Director at the UK Energy Research Centre and has previously been Director at the Policy Studies Institute and the Economic and Social Research Council Global Environmental Change Programme. Jim has also been actively involved with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and provided evidence for the Stern Review.

Dr Samuel Fankhauser

Samuel Fankhauser is a professional economist and climate change specialist. He is currently Managing Director of IDEAcarbon and a visiting fellow in climate change economics at LSE. Previous positions include Deputy Chief Economist at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and Environmental Economist at the World Bank and the Global Environment Facility.

Professor Michael Grubb

Michael Grubb is Chief Economist at the Carbon Trust and a Senior Research Associate, Faculty of Economics at the University of Cambridge. He is a Lead Author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and also a member of DTI's Academic Advisory Panel on Energy and Emissions Projections. From 1999 to 2002 he was Professor of Climate Change and Energy Policy at Imperial College and was Head of the Energy and Environmental Programme at Chatham House from 1993 to 1998.

Notes to editors

1. The Committee on Climate Change is being established as a high-profile independent statutory body. It will be the first of its kind, bringing together different strands of expertise from the fields of climate science and policy, economics, business competitiveness and financial management. It will draw on existing information and undertake its own analysis to provide expert advice to Ministers.

2. The Committee will be sponsored by the UK Government and the Devolved Administrations and will be able to appoint its own staff.

3. To ensure the Committee is able to provide its advice on the first three carbon budgets by December 2008, as required in the Bill currently before Parliament, the Committee will initially be set up as a "shadow", non-statutory body, with its membership rolling over into the statutory body following Royal Assent.

4. The appointment process has been regulated and monitored by the Commissioner for Public Appointments to ensure that it has been made on merit against established criteria and after fair and open competition. This process is also in accordance with the Nolan Principles

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