How passionate are you about climate change? Do you want to be considered in the recruitment process for the Chair of the Adaptation Sub-Committee?

Are you passionate about ensuring the UK considers the latest evidence on the impacts of climate change? Are you a robust leader able to set the direction for a pre-eminent independent body that provides advice to, and holds to account, the UK Government on preparing for climate change? Are you an influential and credible speaker able to engage across a wide spectrum of stakeholders and who will argue for changes that will make the country more resilient to climate change? 

The Adaptation Sub-Committee (ASC) is jointly sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the Welsh Government, Scottish Government and Northern Ireland Executive and is a sub-committee of the Committee on Climate Change. It delivers advice on the Government’s approach to adaptation through independent scrutiny of the National Adaptation Programme, gives advice to the UK Government and Devolved Administrations on their assessment of risks and opportunities from climate change and provides specific advice, analysis, information or other assistance on issues relating to adaptation. 

Responsibilities of the Chair include:

• ensuring the Government’s Programme for adaptation enables the economy, environment and society to prepare for climate change;
• providing independent, constructive challenge and impartial, objective and pragmatic advice to UK ministers, Parliament and the respective devolved governments in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales;
• representing the Sub-Committee’s views on the Committee on Climate Change and acting as the ASC’s figurehead and advocate engaging with the media, specialists, academia and a wide range of other external stakeholders. 

We actively encourage applications from individuals from a wide range of backgrounds.  The UK Government and devolved administrations are committed to improving the diversity of the boards of their public bodies and welcome applications irrespective of race, ethnic or national origin, sex, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, religion, religious beliefs or similar philosophical belief, age, gender re-assignment or community background. Defra operates a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for people with disabilities. All public appointments are based on the principle of merit.