Business leader Adair Turner has been named as the first Chair of the new Committee on Climate Change, Environment Secretary Hilary Benn announced today.

Lord Turner, former Director-General of the CBI and a director of Standard Chartered Bank, will head the high-profile new body, being established under the Climate Change Bill. The Committee will provide independent, expert advice on how the UK can best meet its climate change goals.

Mr Benn said: "The Committee on Climate Change will play a central role in our push towards achieving a low-carbon economy in Britain. The Government will rely on its detailed, expert advice to ensure we tackle our CO2 emissions over the next four decades, to ensure we avoid dangerous climate change.

"I am delighted that Adair Turner has agreed to lead the Committee's work. His wide-ranging expertise will be invaluable in this task and I look forward to working with him."

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Lord Turner said: "Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time, but we can mitigate its effects at manageable economic cost provided we take early and effective action. The Climate Change Bill commits the UK to stretching emission reduction targets and the Committee will have a vital role in advising how to achieve them. I am delighted to have been asked to chair it."

This expert body will advise on the pathway to 2050 by giving advice on the level of carbon budgets, on how much effort should be made in the UK and overseas and how domestic effort should be spread across the economy.

It will also review the UK's target to reduce CO2 emissions by at least 60 per cent by 2050 to see whether it should be tightened up to 80 per cent, as announced by the Prime Minister last year.

The Committee will also report annually to Parliament and the Devolved Administrations on the UK's progress towards meetings its emissions reduction targets.

Alongside the Chair will be five to eight members, bringing together world class experts from the fields of climate science and policy, economics, business and financial management.

Jonathan Adair Turner, Baron Turner of Ecchinswell is a British businessman, academic, and currently is chairman to the Economic and Social Research Council. He is also currently a non-executive director for a number of notable business groups including, Standard Chartered plc, United Business Media plc, Siemens plc, Paternoster Ltd and Climate Change Capital. Adair Turner is a former chair of the Low Pay Commission and Pensions Commission, Director-General of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and vice chairman of Merrill Lynch Europe.

(GK/JM)