Chair
We are delighted to announce the appointment of the former Prime Minister, Rt Hon Theresa May MP, as the new Chair of the Aldersgate Group, with effect from Tuesday 20 July 2021.
The Aldersgate Group is a politically impartial, multi-stakeholder alliance championing a competitive and environmentally sustainable economy. Through targeted political engagement, evidence gathering and policy development, they advocate the business case for decarbonising the UK economy, improving resource efficiency and investing in the natural environment.
They are a membership organisation composed of some of the largest businesses in the UK with a collective global turnover in excess of £550bn, that includes leading NGOs, professional institutes, public sector bodies and politicians from across the political spectrum.
As the term ended of former Labour MP Joan Walley, who chaired the Aldersgate Group over the last six years, Prospectus were mandated to lead the search for an outstanding candidate to support the Group’s ongoing work on the delivery of the UK’s net zero emissions and nature restoration targets, and ensure the UK can build a globally thriving green economy in the process. The position came at an exciting time, as the Aldersgate Group welcomed new business members from the facilities, retail, water, legal and energy sectors, and was involved in three major projects on green finance, resources and waste, and industrial decarbonisation. Between these projects and the need for a pivotal year for the climate, environmental and economic recovery agenda, the new Chair would need to be able to hit the ground running.
We were seeking a credible and engaged senior leader to chair a motivated and collaborative board, working closely with the Executive Director to lead the Group’s governance through a period of increased impact and growth. Experience of strategic leadership in business, civil society or political arenas and evidence of long-term interest and understanding of the environmental sustainability agenda, were key requirements, culminating in the Appointment of Theresa May as the outstanding candidate.
As Prime Minister, Theresa May enacted the UK’s landmark commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050, making the UK the first major economy to enshrine this target in law. She also oversaw the publication of the Clean Growth Strategy and the decision to end unabated coal-fired electricity generation in the UK by 2025, both of which are helping accelerate emission cuts in the power sector and are driving the growth of renewable generation such as wind and solar.
On the environment, her Government published the 25 Year Environment Plan, which provided an ambitious framework to protect and restore the natural world within a generation, a vision which is now in the process of being enshrined in the Environment Bill currently going through Parliament.
On her appointment, Theresa May, incoming Chair of the Aldersgate Group, said: “I am joining the Aldersgate Group to champion the business case for decarbonising the UK economy, improving resource efficiency, and investing in the restoration of nature because we are at a crucial crossroad for our climate and the environment. As Prime Minister, I was proud to lead the UK to be the first major economy to enshrine the net-zero emissions target into law and publish a strategy to overturn the decline in nature within a generation. It is vital we now accelerate our progress towards these ambitious targets and develop clear delivery plans.”
Nick Molho, Executive Director, Aldersgate Group, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Theresa May as our new Chair at this critical time for the Group and the environmental agenda. Decisions made in the next few years will determine whether the UK economy is on a credible pathway towards net zero emissions and whether the country is on track for overturning the decline in its natural environment within a generation. Mrs May’s unrivalled experience and her passion for the climate, environmental and clean growth agenda will be a huge asset to the organisation. As a Group, we would like to give our profound thanks to our outgoing Chair Joan Walley who has been an inspiring leader and a key part of the Aldersgate Group’s success over the past six years.”