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Professor Jim Skea, UKERC’s Research Director, appointed member of the Committee on Climate Change.

The UK Energy Research (UKERC) is delighted to announce that Professor Jim Skea, Research Director of UKERC has been appointed as one of six members[1] of the Committee on Climate Change (CCC), a new expert body that will provide independent and authoritative advice to help the UK to achieve its greenhouse gas emission targets for 2020 and 2050.

The CCC, which will initially work as a "shadow" body[2], will be an independent advisory Non-Departmental Public Body. It is charged with advising Government on the adequacy of the UK's 60% carbon reduction target, recommending five-year carbon budgets for the UK and monitoring progress towards climate change goals.

Jim has been UKERC's Research Director since it was set up in 2004. Previously, he spent six years as Director of the Policy Studies Institute. He has also acted as Launch Director for the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership and was Director of the Economic and Social Research Council's Global Environmental Change Programme.

Jim is currently directing UKERC's Energy 2050 project that aims to show how the UK can move towards a resilient low-carbon energy system. This interdisciplinary exercise, which is highly relevant to the work of the CCC, integrates the work of the natural scientists, engineers, economists and social scientists working within UKERC.

Professor Skea said: "I am both pleased and excited that I have been chosen to take on this challenging role. The Climate Change Bill sets ambitious goals and proposes an innovative process for developing targets and monitoring progress. I feel privileged to be involved right from the start".