Latest news with #NigelTopping
The Independent
16-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Proposed candidate to lead Climate Change Committee defends flying record
The Government's preferred candidate to lead the Climate Change Committee (CCC) has defended his record of flying around the world as part of his climate diplomacy work. Nigel Topping, who worked as the UK's high-level climate action champion, was accused of hypocrisy earlier this year after The Telegraph reported that he accrued 40,000 air miles flying to conferences despite backing a frequent flyer tax. MPs on the Energy Select Committee quizzed him on Wednesday about how he would approach the role of CCC chairman. If he is formally appointed, Mr Topping will oversee the committee's work of advising ministers on climate targets and reporting to Parliament on progress made in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Asked about claims that his air travel has been 11 times greater than that of the average Briton, Mr Topping said: 'I think flying is part of our economy. 'It has some real benefits, both in terms of people's ability to go on holiday, but also the ability to do business and politics internationally.' Mr Topping said relationship-building and advice he can provide on trips such as to Belem in Brazil – where the Cop30 UN climate conference will be held in November – is 'very difficult to do remotely'. Concerns have been growing over the lack of infrastructure and accommodation to host the international conference in the small port city of Belem, which has been chosen for its location next to the Amazon Rainforest. Challenged on whether he could do the work remotely, he said: 'I do a lot of video conference, but you can't do everything by video conference. 'You can't, for example, visit the physical site where the Cop's going to be to form an opinion of how effective that's going to be, especially when there's a lot of contention around whether the physical preparation will be adequate, and that's leading to uncertainty about the multilateral process.' Asked if he has plans to look at his own carbon footprint in the role as CCC chairman, he said: 'I don't anticipate flying much at all in the role as chair of the Climate Change Committee. There may be a need to fly to Brazil in that role. 'But of course, it's a domestically focused role and and I am very conscious of the flying that I did, and only (do so) when I really think it's necessary, and very, very rarely for personal use.' Mr Topping was also asked how he will approach the declining political consensus on climate action as Tory and Reform UK MPs increasingly criticise net-zero policies. 'I think that's one of the most important aspects of the role – to try and maintain that evidence-based narrative around that transition. 'I do see that in my work over the last years, historically, that that consensus has been seen as a real strength of this country, and that consistency of policy signal has been seen as a real strength from the business and investor community. 'So my way to tackle that would be to focus on providing the evidence that this transition is feasible and beneficial economically at the macro level and the household level.' Mr Topping said the loss of consensus could be a 'political weakness' in terms of the UK's ability to attract the investment needed for the industries of the future. But he added that the committee's role is not to 'stamp consensus on the politics of the house' but rather to provide the evidence to help politicians in their discussions. On what might keep him up at night in the role, Mr Topping said growing political division on climate matters that do not appear to be based on solid evidence, citing the 'easy conflation' between the UK's uncompetitive electricity prices and its commitment to net zero. 'It's easier to say those two are facts and therefore one causes the other when it's not in fact true. 'The high electricity prices are caused largely by the fact that our electricity prices are based on the marginal cost of gas. 'So it's a volatility tail wagging the net-zero dog.'
The Independent
04-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Preferred candidate for chairman of Climate Change Committee announced
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has announced Nigel Topping as the Government's preferred candidate for chairman of the Climate Change Committee (CCC). The chairman plays a key role in the committee's work of advising ministers on climate targets and reporting to Parliament on progress made in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The UK Government, Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive all agreed on Mr Topping as the preferred candidate for the CCC role, Mr Miliband said on Friday. Before any formal appointment, Mr Topping will be questioned by MPs on the energy and environmental audit select committees on July 16. Mr Topping is currently a member of the Climate Change Committee and previously held the position of the UK's high-level climate action champion. Following an 18-year private sector career in emerging markets and manufacturing, he worked as executive director of the Carbon Disclosure Project and chief executive of the We Mean Business Coalition. If approved, Mr Topping will replace interim chairman Piers Forster, a leading climate scientist who succeeded former environment secretary Lord Deben in the role in 2023. Mr Miliband said: 'I am delighted to announce the preferred candidate for chair of the Climate Change Committee – Nigel Topping will bring his extensive experience to this role, having already served on the Climate Change Committee for more than two years and as a UN Climate Change High Level Champion for Cop26. 'The CCC plays a vital role advising the UK and devolved governments on our climate targets and this announcement comes at a crucial time, as we deliver our mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower with good jobs, energy security and growth for the British people. 'Net zero is the economic opportunity of the 21st century and Nigel's strong business background will help us drive growth on the transition to net zero, unlocking opportunities for Britain. 'I look forward to progressing the appointment in the coming weeks along with ministers in the devolved governments.'
Evening Standard
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Evening Standard
Preferred candidate for chairman of Climate Change Committee announced
Mr Miliband said: 'I am delighted to announce the preferred candidate for chair of the Climate Change Committee – Nigel Topping will bring his extensive experience to this role, having already served on the Climate Change Committee for more than two years and as a UN Climate Change High Level Champion for Cop26.
Daily Mail
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Ed Miliband adviser who backed levy on frequent fliers racked up 40,000 air miles in a year by travelling to 'environmental' conferences
One of the Government's climate advisers has been accused of 'rank hypocrisy' after they racked up 40,000 air miles in a year by jetting to environmental conferences. Nigel Topping is one of six members of the Climate Change Committee, which advises Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary, on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In February, the committee backed a 'frequent flier levy' to help reach Net Zero. This would see Britons who take the most flights, or fly the furthest distances, taxed more. According to The Telegraph, Mr Topping attended conferences in Barbados, Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the Netherlands and the US in the last 12 months. An analysis by the newspaper showed he accrued 11 times more air miles in the last year than the average Briton. It also found that Mr Topping's carbon footprint from flights alone was about 40 per cent more than the average Briton produces in total in a year. Mr Miliband himself was recently criticised after it was revealed he had notched up at least 44,600 air miles since he became Energy Secretary last July. It meant he was responsible for at least 54.2 tons of carbon emissions in nine months – more than 12 times the annual emissions of the average Briton. Mr Topping was revealed to have attended the International Mangrove Conservation and Restoration Conference in December in Abu Dhabi. This was held at the five-star Bab al-Qasr hotel, which boasts a private beach, infinity pool and chauffeur service. The climate adviser was also said to have attended the UN's desertification conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, earlier the same month. Mr Topping, who was the UK's high-level climate action champion for the COP26 summit in Glasgow in 2021, attended the Sustainable Energy For All Global Forum in Barbados last month. Tory MP Andrew Bowie, the shadow energy secretary, said: 'This is rank hypocrisy. 'Once again we see those preaching this Mr Miliband-driven Net Zero zealotry are all too happy to impose significant burdens on others, but won't practise what they preach. 'It's one rule for them and another for everyone else. Kemi Badenoch and I have been clear that Net Zero by 2050 would involve significant cost to the country and to the consumer and it is simply not sustainable. 'It is a shame this Labour Government is still not prepared to do the same.' The Climate Change Committee did not comment as Mr Topping's travel was not part of his work as a committee member.
