Rachel Kyte, Professor of Practice in Climate Policy, has today been appointed as the new UK climate envoy by David Lammy, Foreign Secretary, and Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.
The role, re-instated by the Labour government, will involve coordinating the UK’s relations with other donor countries, as well as forming partnerships with both lower income nations and rising powers. Her official title will be the UK special representative for climate.
Rachel has previously served as special representative of the UN secretary-general and Chief Executive Officer of Sustainable Development for All. She has also been the World Bank Group vice president and special envoy for climate change, leading action on climate finance in the run-up to the Paris Agreement.
Rachel Kyte says: “This government is committed to reconnecting the UK to the world with climate action as a priority. And the world is being shaped politically and economically by climate change.
This provides an opportunity to use international action to help deliver on the UK’s energy mission. And it provides challenges, not least in mobilising the financing to protect people and drive greener growth. There is no time like now for the UK to help drive action and I am excited to play my part in this new role.”
Edward Davey, UK head of the World Resources Institute thinktank, said: “Rachel is a giant and a ball of fire, with a vast hinterland of knowledge and experience and a global network of friends and allies. She will be brilliant and a force to be reckoned with.”
Bernice Lee, research director for futures at the Chatham House thinktank, said: “Given what the foreign secretary just said about his priority of using climate and nature as a way to regain soft power for the UK and re-engage with the developing world, Rachel’s extensive experience and network that came from her work with the developing countries and tackling investment challenges on the ground at the World Bank and UN mean she is an excellent fit for the role of climate envoy.”
