Alok Sharma has been appointed as full-time President of the UN COP26 climate conference in Glasgow this November, while Kwasi Kwarteng has been appointed as Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
The COP26 President will be based in the Cabinet COP26,Office, continuing as a full member of Cabinet, and will chair the Climate Action Implementation Committee to coordinate government action towards net zero by 2050 in the run up to COP26.
The conference was originally set to take place in November 2020, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
COP26 President Alok Sharma commented on the announcement: “The biggest challenge of our time is climate change and we need to work together to deliver a cleaner, greener world and build back better for present and future generations.
“Through the UK’s Presidency of COP26 we have a unique opportunity, working with friends and partners around the world, to deliver on this goal.
“Given the vital importance of tackling climate change I am delighted to have been asked by the Prime Minister to dedicate all my energies to this urgent task.”
Following these appointments, Anne-Marie Trevelyan will become Minister of State for Business, Energy and Clean Growth, taking forward climate and energy policy, including implementing plans in the Prime Minister’s Ten Point Plan.
She will also continue in her role as UK’s International Champion on Adaptation and Resilience for the COP26 Presidency.
