Amber Rudd appointed new Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change

Richard Black said: “The appointment of Amber Rudd MP as Energy and Climate Change Secretary is significant in that it shows that the Conservative Party leadership retains its commitment to policies based on sound climate science.

“Just before the election, Ms Rudd recalled the fact that Margaret Thatcher was the first leader of any major nation to call for a United Nations treaty on climate change, and pledged that a Conservative Government would be faithful to Mrs Thatcher’s legacy.

“Logically, that suggests that in the coming months we can expect to see the Government pressing for a strong global deal at the UN climate talks in December, safeguarding cost-effective policies leading to UK decarbonisation and re-invigorating progress in areas that are currently stalled, such as cutting energy waste.”

Ms Rudd’s appointment will be welcomed by businesses that are concerned about climate change impacts on their investments and supply chains, says Rear Admiral Neil Morisetti, former UK special representative on climate change.

Rear Morisetti said: “British businesses are increasingly concerned about the impacts of a changing climate on the availability of raw materials and supply chains. They are looking to the Government to provide leadership on climate change, at home and overseas, to help reduce these risks.

“In February Mr Cameron demonstrated his personal commitment to tackling climate change through signing the joint party leaders’ pledge, which many business leaders welcomed for precisely these reasons – and we now look to the early days of his Government for further signals that it will match his personal commitment."