At first impressions, the decision of Theresa May to close the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), was seen by many as a setback in efforts to tackle climate change. But industry insiders believe the move may lead to sustainability being integrated more closely into industrial strategy and construction policies.
Mrs May announced earlier this month she was abolishing DECC and merging it with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to form the new Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. The new Department is being led by Greg Clark MP who served as Shadow Energy Secretary for the Conservative Party from 2008 to 2010.
Shortly after, the decision was labelled as “plain stupid” by former Labour leader Ed Miliband while Friends of the Earth CEO Craig Bennett said the move appeared to suggest the Prime Minister had “downgraded action to tackle climate change”. But following this initial reaction, a number of publications covering the construction sector have published articles that suggest the move may result in more sustainability considerations being incorporated within business policies.
RCI magazine (Roof Cladding and Insulation) reported that Julie Hirigoyen, CEO of the UK Green Building Council, said: “The newly created Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy represents a golden opportunity to put sustainable business at the heart of jobs and prosperity.”
Meanwhile, Building.co.uk quoted Rob Lambe at Willmott Dixon Energy Services, who suggested business and energy policy may be “a bit more joined up” under the new regime. The magazine also featured confirmation from a DECC spokesperson that construction policies like the Energy Company Obligation and the Renewable Heat Incentive would transfer across to the new business and energy department.