Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
{{Short description|UK government department}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{distinguish|text=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)}}
{{Infobox government agency
| name = Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
| type = Department
| logo = Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Logo.svg
| image =
| image_caption =
| formed = 7 February 2023
| preceding1 = Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy
| preceding2 =
| dissolved =
| superseding1 =
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| agency_type = UK Government Department
| jurisdiction = United Kingdom
| status =
| headquarters = 3-8 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2EG
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| motto =
| employees =
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| minister_type = Secretary of State
| minister1_name = Ed Miliband MP
| minister1_pfo = Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
| deputyminister_type = Minister of State
| deputyminister1_name =
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| deputyminister2_name =
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| chief1_name = Jeremy Pocklington
| chief1_position = Permanent Secretary
| chief2_name = Clive Maxwell
| chief2_position = Second Permanent Secretary
| parent_department =
| parent_agency =
| parent_agency_type =
| child1_agency = Ofgem
| child2_agency = Civil Nuclear Police Authority
| child3_agency = Mining Remediation Authority
| child4_agency = Climate Change Committee
| child5_agency = Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
| child6_agency = Salix Finance Ltd
| child7_agency = Committee on Fuel Poverty
| child8_agency = Committee on Radioactive Waste Management
| child9_agency = Nuclear Liabilities Financing Assurance Board
| child10_agency = Great British Nuclear
| child11_agency = North Sea Transition Authority
| child12_agency = Commissioner for Shale and Gas
| child13_agency = United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
| child14_agency = National Energy System Operator
| keydocument1 =
| website = {{URL|https://gov.uk/desnz}}
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{{PoliticsUK}}
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ){{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/offshore-coordination-support-scheme |title=Offshore Coordination Support Scheme - GOV.UK |publisher=gov.uk |date=10 February 2023 |access-date=10 February 2023}} 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).{{cite web |title=Department for Energy Security & Net Zero |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-energy-security-and-net-zero |website=GOV.UK |publisher=UK Government |access-date=8 February 2023 |date=7 February 2023}}
The department's first Secretary of State was Grant Shapps; he was previously the final Secretary of State at BEIS. The current secretary is Ed Miliband.
The department is scrutinised by the Energy Security and Net Zero Select Committee.{{Cite web |date=9 May 2023 |title=New Energy Security and Net Zero Committee to hold stakeholder event in Parliament to help shape scrutiny priorities |url=https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/664/energy-security-and-net-zero-committee/news/195142/new-energy-security-and-net-zero-committee-to-hold-stakeholder-event-in-parliament-to-help-shape-scrutiny-priorities/ |website=UK Parliament}}
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."{{cite book |title=Making Government Deliver for the British People: Updating the machinery of government for the world of today and of tomorrow |date=7 February 2023 |publisher=UK Government |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1134989/Making_Government_Deliver_for_the_British_People.pdf |access-date=7 February 2023 |format=PDF}} 30px Text was copied from this source, which is available under an [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/ Open Government Licence v3.0]. © Crown copyright.
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.{{cite web |last1=Ward |first1=Bob |title=Response to the creation of the new UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero |url=https://www.lse.ac.uk/granthaminstitute/news/response-to-the-creation-of-the-new-uk-department-for-energy-security-and-net-zero/ |website=lse.ac.uk |publisher=The London School of Economics |access-date=8 February 2023}}
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.
Ministers
DESNZ ministers are as follows, with cabinet members in bold:{{OGL-attribution|{{cite web|title=Our ministers|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-energy-security-and-net-zero|website=GOV.UK|publisher=Department for Energy Security and Net Zero|access-date=30 July 2024}}}}
See also
- Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy – preceding body from 2016 to 2023.
- Department of Energy and Climate Change – similar body from 2008 to 2016.
- Department of Energy – historic body with similar responsibilities from 1974 to 1992.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://gov.uk/desnz}}
- [https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1134989/Making_Government_Deliver_for_the_British_People.pdf Making Government Deliver: Updating the machinery of government for the world of today and of tomorrow] (policy paper forwarded by Rishi Sunak explaining the rationale for the department)
{{Departments of the United Kingdom Government|type=Ministerial|title=Energy and Net Zero}}
{{Energy in the United Kingdom|govreg}}
{{Authority control|state=expanded}}
Category:Energy in the United Kingdom
Category:Ministries established in 2023