Green campaigners have expressed fears that Theresa May’s new cabinet appointments and the combination of the Business and Energy departments have raised uncertainty for the protection of our countryside and wildlife and the UK government’s future efforts to tackle climate change.

As part of Prime Minister May’s cabinet reshuffle last week, the departments of Business Innovation and Skills (Bis) and Energy and Climate Change were merged, with the words ‘climate change’ being dropped from the name of the new department. Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark was handed the brief for the newly formed Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy.

Commenting on the appointment of Boris Johnson, David Davies and Liam Fox to Cabinet posts, Greenpeace aired concern over the voting record of the three and their links to climate sceptic funders and think tanks.

Commenting on last week’s appointments, Greenpeace executive director John Sauven said, “The voting record and affiliation with climate sceptics of key cabinet appointees are deeply worrying. They show a lack of understanding [of the threat] posed by climate change to the UK and the world. If we are to continue to have a key global role in environmental action, we need urgent reassurance from the new government that the hard won progress on climate and renewables targets, air pollution and the protection of wildlife will not be sidelined or abandoned in the Brexit negotiations.”

Sauven added, “The energy and climate change change department has been broken up  and put back together without the name 'climate change'. Although, some might say ‘what’s in a name’, there is a very real worry that the progress made on tackling climate change  could be relegated to the bottom of the intray. Business, energy and industrial strategy must have green innovation and job creation at its heart.”

Environment campaign organisation 350.org also shared reservations about the departmental merger, and warned “We can’t rely on business or on the markets to fight climate change.”

However,  James Court, Head of Policy and External Affairs for the Renewable Energy Association, which represents the green energy industry, said, “We are delighted Greg Clark has been appointed the new Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. He previously showed real vision as the Shadow Energy Secretary and we look forward to working with him once again in order to get things moving on the deployment of new renewable energy infrastructure.”