Former PM appointed chair of environmental alliance

The Aldersgate Group, a politically impartial alliance championing a competitive and environmentally sustainable economy, has appointed Theresa May MP as its new chair. She will take over from former Labour MP Joan Walley, who has chaired the group for the last six years. May will support the its work on the delivery of the UK’s net zero emissions and nature restoration targets and ensure the UK can build a globally thriving green economy in the process.

As Prime Minister, Theresa May enacted the UK’s landmark commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050, making the UK the first major economy to enshrine this target in law. She also oversaw the publication of the Clean Growth Strategy and the decision to end unabated coal-fired electricity generation in the UK by 2025, both of which are helping accelerate emission cuts in the power sector and driving the growth of renewable generation such as wind and solar.

On the environment, her Government published the 25 Year Environment Plan, which provided an ambitious framework to protect and restore the natural world within a generation, a vision which is now in the process of being enshrined in the Environment Bill currently going through Parliament.

The announcement comes at a significant moment for the Aldersgate Group, with the organisation welcoming new members from the facilities management, retail, water, legal and energy sectors including Mitie, the Co-operative Group, Wessex Water, CMS and Octopus Energy.

Theresa May said: “I am joining the Aldersgate Group to champion the business case for decarbonising the UK economy, improving resource efficiency, and investing in the restoration of nature because we are at a crucial crossroad for our climate and the environment.”