Professor Piers Forster joins Committee on Climate Change
Professor Piers Forster has been appointed to the post of climate scientist on the Committee on Climate Change (CCC).
Piers Forster at the 48th Session of the IPCC in Incheon, Republic of Korea (credit: IISD/ENB/Sean Wu)
Professor Piers Forster has been appointed to the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) by the Minister for Energy and Clean Growth, Claire Perry MP, and the devolved administrations.
Professor Forster is Director of the Priestley International Centre for Climate and Professor of Physical Climate Change at the University of Leeds. He takes up the post of climate scientist on the Committee for a 5 year term.
Piers has played a significant role authoring Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports, and currently has a coordinating lead author role for the IPCC sixth assessment report. As well as his research career, he established the forest protection and research charity, the United Bank of Carbon and has a number of roles advising industry, including membership of the Rolls Royce Environment Advisory Board.
Professor Forster replaces founding Committee member, Sir Brian Hoskins, who recently stood down after 10 years of service.
Commenting on his appointment, Professor Forster said:
Sir Brian taught me as a PhD student and is someone I have huge respect for. I am humbled to be following in his footsteps. I am thrilled to be taking up this post on the 10th anniversary of the UK’s Climate Change Act. The Act and the Committee have done a great job in helping the UK establish itself as a world leader in reducing emissions. However, the challenging ‘teenage years’ are just around the corner and the Committee has some important work to do on long-term targets and evidence based solutions that, if we get it right, will help the transition to a zero-carbon UK.
Although climate change is a global problem, many of its solutions need to be implemented at a local level, and I am keen to learn best practice from the cities, rural communities and businesses of the UK. I can’t wait to roll up my sleeves and get started!
Chairman of the Committee on Climate Change, Lord Deben, said:
I am absolutely delighted to welcome Professor Piers Forster to the Committee. His long-standing experience in climate research and analysis – including at the very highest levels of the IPCC – will be extremely valuable, particularly as we prepare to deliver a major report to Government reassessing the UK’s long-term climate change targets.
I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank Sir Brian Hoskins for his dedicated and exemplary service. For over a decade, Sir Brian has ensured the CCC’s recommendations to government are firmly rooted in the latest scientific research and evidence. Brian’s knowledge and insight have been pivotal to the Committee’s success since it began work 10 years ago.