“Why do they spend a lot of time and money doing careful scientific studies, and then simply ignore the results?” – Sir David Attenborough
Dear Colleague,
The job of the Environmental Audit Committee is to make sure we examine the science and hold people to account against their environmental and sustainability targets.
A good chair of committee does not hog the limelight but builds a cross-party team that will work together to question witnesses. The chair's key role is to draft a report that can command the agreement of all members, and find suitable compromises where they differ, whilst moulding a powerful report of constructive recommendations to government.
In the last parliament I was a member of all three of the environment select committees: EAC, EFRA, and ESNZ where I worked constructively with colleagues from all sides of the House. That is why the Chairs of all three committees in the last parliament (two Conservatives and one SNP) have been pleased to endorse my candidacy to Chair the Committee. I hope you will too.
Experience
As Minister for Biodiversity and Rural Affairs, I set up Natural England, the network of Marine Conservation Zones, the English Coast Path, and established the system that led to the Natural Capital Committee.
As Minister for Energy in Northern Ireland, with the Irish Minister I unified the electricity grid in the whole of Ireland.
As Minister at the Dept of Trade and Industry, I helped introduce the system of cap and trade for carbon emissions.
As the Prime Minister's Envoy for Forests, I established the £58 million Congo Basin Forest Fund.
In opposition, I served as Shadow Secretary of State for Energy & Climate Change, Shadow Environment Minister and Shadow Secretary of State for International Trade.
Outside of parliament, I have been President of GLOBE, a Director of The Climate Parliament and the UK Chair of the International Conservation Caucus Foundation.
1st Preference VOTE for Chair of the EAC.
Barry Gardiner
Member of Parliament for Brent West