New Business Secretary must end fracking, support clean energy and champion nature

Reacting to the news that Grant Shapps has been appointed as Business Secretary as part of Rishi Sunak’s new cabinet, Kierra Box, campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said:

“Grant Shapps will have to contend with far bigger issues than he may have been used to in his previous transport role. As Business Secretary the responsibility lies with him to end the threat of fracking for good, throw his government’s support behind cheap, clean and popular renewables and champion strong regulations that protect people and nature.

“In the past he’s made clear that he understands the scale of the climate crisis and the need to protect our environment for future generations – it is this that must inform his decision making as Business Secretary.

“He can start by ditching his predecessor’s deregulation projects and dropping the retained EU law bill – both of which could have disastrous consequences for nature and wildlife. He must also design a new green growth strategy that can help to beat both the cost of living and climate crises as well as supporting our economy. This should include a nationwide energy efficiency scheme and plans to scale up our renewable power potential.”