Chris Skidmore was the UK’s Energy Minister responsible for signing the UK’s net zero commitment into law in 2019: becoming the first G7 country to do so.

Most recently, Chris was appointed by the UK Prime Minister in 2022 to lead an independent review of net zero, publishing Mission Zero: The Net Zero Review in January 2023.

This was the most comprehensive engagement exercise ever undertaken on net zero in the UK, while the 340-page report, whose recommendations were widely adopted by the UK government, has been universally acknowledged by those working in climate policy as the definitive guide to how to deliver net zero more effectively in the UK. Mission Zero was published as a book in November 2023: Mission Zero | Biteback Publishing.

Lord Nicholas Stern, the author of the Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change has stated that “Mission Zero is a remarkable and important piece of work. It provides a clear analysis of and guide to, the extraordinary opportunities that lie in building a new approach to growth and energy in the UK … It is a model of clarity and rigour in its analysis and draws on careful consultation across society, industry, politics and the UK’s nations. It should be read by all who are interested in growth, climate and the environment. It carries important lessons for countries across the world on how to take the transition to the zero-carbon economy forward. A tremendous achievement.”

Chris was a Member of Parliament between 2010 to 2024, during which time he served in five government departments, as Science, Research and Innovation Minister, Universities Minister, Health Minster and Minister for the Constitution. As a member of the UK Cabinet, he was also appointed a Privy Councillor in 2019. Chris recently also chaired the cross-party All Party Group on the Environment between 2022 and 2024.

He has also been a Senior Fellow (2021-23) at the Harvard Kennedy School, is a Visiting Fellow of St Anthony’s College, Oxford and a Professor of Practice in Net Zero Policy at Bath University. He was appointed as an Officer of the British Empire in 2022 for services to parliament.

He has continued to publish a number of reports on climate and energy policy and chairs the influential Mission Zero Coalition he established in March 2023. Chris is a prolific speaker on climate policy and in 2023, he spoke at over 200 conferences and events on delivering net zero and the energy transition, including giving keynote speeches at London Climate Action Week, New York Climate Week and COP28 in Dubai.