Department_for_Energy_Security_and_Net_Zero

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

UK government department

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ)[1] is a ministerial department of the Government of the United Kingdom. It was established on 7 February 2023 by a cabinet reshuffle under the Rishi Sunak premiership. The new department took on the energy policy responsibilities of the former Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).[2]

Not to be confused with the preceding Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (2016 to 2023) and Department of Energy and Climate Change (2008 to 2016), or the historic Department of Energy (1974 to 1992).
Quick Facts Formed, Preceding Department ...

The department's first Secretary of State was Grant Shapps; he was previously the final Secretary of State at BEIS. The current secretary is Claire Coutinho.

The department is scrutinised by the Energy Security and Net Zero Select Committee.[3]

History

The department was established on 7 February 2023.

The creation of the new department was described by Downing Street as an opportunity to "focus on giving the UK cheaper, cleaner, more secure sources of energy – cutting bills, cutting emissions, and cutting dependence on international energy supplies."[4]

The London School of Economics's Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment welcomed the creation of the new department saying that it "signalled a commitment to delivering net zero" and "showed that MPs on the right of the Conservative Party have failed to win the argument for weakening climate policy." However, the LSE warned that the new department would have to "persuade other departments and the Treasury to accelerate action on cutting greenhouse gas emissions across the economy outside the energy sector" to be effective.[5]

Responsibilities

The department's immediate priorities were outlined by the Prime Minister as follows:

  • To maintain energy supplies, particularly during the winter.
  • To reduce energy bills and lower inflation.
  • To ensure the UK is on track to meet its legally binding carbon budgets and Net Zero commitments.
  • To speed up significantly the delivery of network infrastructure and green energy.
  • To improve the energy efficiency of UK homes, businesses and public sector buildings.
  • To deliver a new Energy Bill by the end of the Parliament.[4]

Ministers

DESNZ ministers are as follows, with cabinet members in bold:[6]

More information Minister, Portrait ...

See also

References

  1. [1]
    "Offshore Coordination Support Scheme - GOV.UK". gov.uk. 10 February 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  2. [2]
    "Department for Energy Security & Net Zero". GOV.UK. UK Government. 7 February 2023. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  3. [3]
    "New Energy Security and Net Zero Committee to hold stakeholder event in Parliament to help shape scrutiny priorities". UK Parliament. 9 May 2023.
  4. [4]
    Making Government Deliver for the British People: Updating the machinery of government for the world of today and of tomorrow (PDF). UK Government. 7 February 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2023. Text was copied from this source, which is available under an Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright.
  5. [5]
    Ward, Bob. "Response to the creation of the new UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero". lse.ac.uk. The London School of Economics. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  6. [6]
    This article contains OGL licensed text This article incorporates text published under the British Open Government Licence: "Our ministers". GOV.UK. Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
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