Environment Strategy Director

Our environmental responsibilities will reshape every aspect of how we build and use the transport system. Reaching net zero by 2050 will require a monumental shift in how we think about the transport system and in how we plan investment for the decades ahead. Transport is now the single biggest contributor to UK greenhouse gas emissions and in many areas, we need to work with international partners to reduce those emissions. At the same time, we need to adapt our transport system to be more resilient to the impacts of climate change and address the full range of our environmental responsibilities – from air quality to biodiversity.

The Environment Strategy Director leads a team of around 100 staff based across London, Birmingham, Hastings and Leeds to set direction for all aspects of the Department’s environmental responsibilities. The newly formed Directorate will lead the Department’s overarching strategy for reducing the environmental impact of all forms of transport, and then ensure our ambitious commitments are delivered. The Director is responsible for the development and delivery of a transport-wide low carbon fuels strategy, including the development of the UK sustainable aviation fuels industry and the operation of the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation.

Particular responsibilities include:

Decarbonisation Strategy

Supporting and challenging each area of transport – whether road, rail, maritime, aviation or other forms of transport – to deliver the government’s Carbon Budget Delivery Plan, working closely with DESNZ to set budgets, monitor their results and respond to legal challenges. The team also leads the Department’s international engagement on environmental issues, working effectively with industry, and other government departments to deliver an effective and clear decarbonisation strategy. The team leads the Department’s contribution to international climate negotiations – for example, organising the transport programme at COP28.

Adaptation Strategy

Extreme heat, storms, sea level rises, heavy precipitation, and floods, all pose significant risks to the safe and successful operation of the transport network. The network is interconnected, meaning that disruption to a single type of transport can cascade to others – i.e. a broken trainline could prevent journeys to an airport where flights may still be running. The team leads the overall strategy to adapt the UK transport system to these challenges, coordinating work on all forms of transport to implement the Government’s Adaptation Strategy, including building a more resilient network.

Impact of Transport on the Environment

The 2021 Environment Act and the Environment Improvement Plan set out the Government’s overarching goals to improve nature and the environment and transport has a key role to play in delivering this ambition. The Director for Environment Strategy leads the Department’s policy on improving air quality, including NOx and PM 2.5 emissions, to meet the Government’s targets; developing a Biodiversity Action Plan to demonstrate what more transport can do to conserve and enhance biodiversity, to support compliance with the new biodiversity objective; and ensuring the Department is considering the new Environmental Principles in policy development.

Low Carbon Fuels

The Low Carbon Fuel division works with a broad range of interests including the oil and aviation industries, renewable fuels producers and forecourt operators. Environmental and humanitarian NGOs also take a very close interest in this policy area. The team are currently finalising the development of a new UK Low Carbon Fuels strategy as well as legislating for a mandate to incentivise the supply of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). They will also be exploring other measures to stimulate UK production, including considering responses to a consultation on a revenue certainty mechanism for SAF producers and overseeing legislative changes that ensure the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation stays up to date and provides certainty for the sector. The team run the £1.5bn/year Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation (RTFO) certificate scheme, including compliance with legislative requirements and effective measures to prevent fraud/abuse, and oversees a substantial capital grant competition programme, that includes £180m of grants to support production of advanced fuel for use in aviation and Heavy Goods Vehicles.

Personal relationship building with environmental and industry stakeholders will be key to the role. Public, private and third sector stakeholders are vocal and influential. Building effective relationships to collaborate with these organisations through delivery where objectives align, whilst managing challenging situations where they don’t, is central to success. Engaging and communicating with these groups will include providing regular updates, addressing concerns, and gathering feedback to ensure buy-in and support for Departmental initiatives.