About Nigel Topping, New UK Climate Change Committee Chair

Established in 2008 under the UK’s Climate Change Act, the Climate Change Committee functions as the UK’s independent adviser on climate progress and resilience. 

The key goal? Reaching net zero by 2050 – and the group now has a new leader to support the Committee’s role.

Nigel Topping CMG has been appointed Chair of the UK Climate Change Committee (CCC), marking a shift for the institution at a pivotal moment in the country’s climate journey. 

“I want to congratulate Nigel Topping on his appointment as Chair of the Climate Change Committee,” says UK Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband.

“We highly value the Climate Change Committee’s independent advice on how we can achieve net zero, so I am thrilled to have Nigel in this important role – as he brings extensive experience, including from his time serving as the UN High Level Climate Action Champion for COP26.”

What is the Climate Change Committee?

The CCC’s role is fundamentally one of scrutiny and guidance – monitoring government delivery against legislated carbon budgets, evaluating policies and producing regular progress reports that hold the government to account. 

The committee has successfully guided the UK through several key milestones, including helping frame the legally binding target to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and advising on interim carbon budgets that act as stepping stones to that goal.

The outgoing interim chair, Professor Piers Forster, navigated a challenging period that included developing guidance for the Seventh Carbon Budget and reporting on devolved administrations’ efforts, helping preserve the CCC’s reputation for scientific rigour and policy independence.

About Nigel Topping

Nigel first trained as a mathematician at St John’s College, Cambridge, transitioning from academia into the manufacturing sector before dedicating his career to environmental impact. 

His five years as CEO of WE MEAN BUSINESS saw him leading cross-sector coalitions to accelerate climate action, while as Executive Director and Chief Innovation Officer at CDP, he pioneered strategies that placed cities, businesses, water and forests at the heart of climate discussions. 

Nigel’s pivotal role came as UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP26 in Glasgow, where he launched the Race To Zero and Race To Resilience campaigns and partnered with Mark Carney to establish the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero. 

Most recently, he has provided strategic advice to governments, financial institutions and companies, and has held high-profile advisory and academic roles, including as a non-executive director of the UK Infrastructure Bank and an Honorary Professor of Economics at Exeter University.

He was recognised as Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) by Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, particularly for his work supporting the UK’s COP26 Presidency.

“It is an honour to be appointed Chair of the Climate Change Committee at this pivotal moment,” Nigel says. 

“The UK has an opportunity to deliver on its climate commitments in a way that reduces costs for households, powers our industries forward and makes our economy more successful. It’s also important to ensure resilience against growing climate impacts and I look forward to working with Baroness Brown who leads our adaptation work.    

“I’d like to offer my sincere thanks to Professor Piers Forster, who has been our interim Chair since Lord Deben stepped down. He has led the Committee through an incredibly busy period overseeing advice on the UK’s Seventh Carbon Budget, three devolved carbon budgets and a number of key progress reports to government.”

A defining decade for climate policy

Nigel’s appointment comes as the CCC faces “a critical few years ahead,” according to Ed Miliband. 

The UK’s ambitions to become a global ‘clean energy superpower’ intensify the scrutiny on the CCC’s advice.  The next phase demands balancing innovation and investment with the rigour that has underpinned the CCC’s credibility.

“Net zero is the economic opportunity of the 21st century and Nigel’s business expertise will help us to maximise on this opportunity as we deliver our clean energy superpower mission – boosting energy security, creating good jobs, bringing down bills and tackling the climate crisis,” says Ed Miliband.

The UK’s overarching climate objective remains reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, supported by a series of carbon budgets – a framework designed to ensure steady, accountable progress. 

As of 2025, the country has begun implementing the recommendations of its sixth Carbon Budget (2033-2037), with the CCC’s guidance key to shaping both domestic policies and international credibility. 

The CCC’s evolving focus will include supporting local adaptation and resilience measures, scrutinising the delivery of net zero and maintaining a clear, trusted voice amid global uncertainty.

“I am committed to upholding the rigour and independent nature of the Committee’s advice, while harnessing our country’s wealth of scientific, financial and business talent,” Nigel says.