Our Groups / Structure
DECC is organised into four primary Groups, namely:
(To view the groups in more detail click on the heading)
Energy Markets and Infrastructure (EMI)
National Climate Change and Consumer Support (NCCCS)
Energy and Climate Change International (ECCI)
Corporate Support and Shared Services Group (CSSS)
Energy Markets and Infrastructure (EMI)
National Climate Change and Consumer Support (NCCCS)
Energy and Climate Change International (ECCI)
Corporate Support and Shared Services Group (CSSS)
Energy Markets and Infrastructure (EMI)
The EMI Group’s role within DECC is to ensure that our policies enable the UK to have clean, safe and secure supplies of competitively priced energy, which is vital to the our economic growth and to the wellbeing of the population.
The Group leads on the following departmental objectives:
• Ensure secure energy supplies; and
• Manage energy liabilities effectively and safely.
The Group leads on the following departmental objectives:
• Ensure secure energy supplies; and
• Manage energy liabilities effectively and safely.
It also contributes to the following DECC objectives:
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the UK;
• Meet energy and climate change objectives fairly at home and abroad;
The EMI Group therefore works to ensure the delivery of secure, competitively priced energy supply to consumers, to create effective energy markets in UK, EU and internationally, and to reform the planning system to encourage investment. It works to encourage diversity of supplies and infrastructure, and to support the deployment of low-carbon technologies – renewables, nuclear, and carbon capture and storage for fossil fuels. It also aims to maximise recovery from the UK Continental Shelf, and to improve the resilience and security of critical national infrastructure. Finally, it deals with inherited energy liabilities (which account for a major part of DECC’s spending), and to ensure that the taxpayer is properly protected against future liabilities for nuclear decommissioning and waste management.
• Meet energy and climate change objectives fairly at home and abroad;
• Ensure that the UK economy benefits from the business and employment opportunities of a low-carbon future; and
• Develop DECC’s capability and capacity, systems and relationships so that we improve our engagement with, and deliver effectively for, the public
The EMI Group therefore works to ensure the delivery of secure, competitively priced energy supply to consumers, to create effective energy markets in UK, EU and internationally, and to reform the planning system to encourage investment. It works to encourage diversity of supplies and infrastructure, and to support the deployment of low-carbon technologies – renewables, nuclear, and carbon capture and storage for fossil fuels. It also aims to maximise recovery from the UK Continental Shelf, and to improve the resilience and security of critical national infrastructure. Finally, it deals with inherited energy liabilities (which account for a major part of DECC’s spending), and to ensure that the taxpayer is properly protected against future liabilities for nuclear decommissioning and waste management.
National Climate Change and Consumer Support (NCCCS)
The NCCCS Group’s mission is to drive the transition to a low carbon economy, with help for those who need it most.
The Group leads on the following departmental objectives:
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the UK;
• Help the most vulnerable meet their energy needs; and
It also contributes to the following DECC objectives:
• Meet energy and climate change objectives fairly at home and abroad; and
The Group leads on the following departmental objectives:
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the UK;
• Help the most vulnerable meet their energy needs; and
• Ensure that the UK economy benefits from the business and employment opportunities of a low carbon future.
It also contributes to the following DECC objectives:
• Meet energy and climate change objectives fairly at home and abroad; and
• Develop the Department’s capability and capacity, systems and relationships so that we improve engagement with and deliver effectively for the public.
The NCCCS Group therefore works to deliver an effective system of carbon budgets to put UK on a path to an 80% reduction in GHG emissions by 2050, to improve the effectiveness of national carbon markets (including through the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, the Carbon Reduction Commitment, and Climate Change Agreements), and to secure a step-change in energy efficiency (including insulating 6m homes by 2011, and a national roll-out of smart meters). It is introducing the Community Energy Saving Programme, improving the effectiveness of the Warm Front programme, and completing a major review of fuel poverty policies. It is working to develop a package to reduce carbon emissions and stimulate growth in ‘green jobs’ in the UK. Finally, it is working to ensure that DECC communicates effectively with the public and with its stakeholders, including through public engagement programmes such as ‘The Big Energy Shift’, through the ACT ON CO2 campaign, and with a particular focus on online engagement and new media.
Energy and Climate Change International (ECCI)
The ECCI Group’s challenge is to secure a global agreement on climate change which is sufficiently ambitious to protect the future of the planet in a way which is fair to all, and which is implemented; while safeguarding UK national interests, in particular regarding our share of emission reductions and financial commitments.
The Group leads on the following departmental objective:
It also contributes to the following DECC objectives:
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the UK;
• Ensure secure energy supplies;
• Meet energy and climate change objectives fairly at home and abroad;
The ECCI Group therefore works, within the context of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, on policy development and analysis, international negotiations, and campaigning, for which purpose it has established a Road to Copenhagen (R2C) campaign centre. It aims to deliver a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions sufficient to keep the planet from warming by more than 20C above pre-industrial levels, and, as a result of collective action, a peak in global emissions no later than 2020, and a cut of at least 50% by 2050 (from 1990 levels). It is responsible for setting the strategic direction for policy on international energy security, European energy and climate policy and the international low-carbon technology agenda. It is also supporting the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on International Energy Security, former Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks, and will produce an implementation plan for delivering the recommendations of the Wicks Review.
Since the Department’s creation, a transition team within CSSS, known as the Building DECC Team, has worked to manage the logistical challenge of establishing a new department (in areas such as IT, HR, finance and accommodation). The Building DECC team is working with the Management Board and staff to develop and embed a shared culture and values for DECC.
The team also leads on ‘Greening DECC’, working to help make the Department a low-carbon leader across Government and beyond. Our headquarters are based in an old building just off Whitehall, which has a poor energy-efficiency rating (G), and we see this as an opportunity to demonstrate the improvements that can be made, even in a Grade II listed building in an architecturally sensitive area of London.
CSSS has responsibility for putting in place and operating effective governance structures which ensure the efficient and smooth running of the Department, including Boards for management, strategy and audit purposes. This also means ensuring effective corporate performance management and reporting is in place.
A Government department is first and foremost a group of people. DECC’s HR function has faced a number of immediate challenges, not least the need to harmonise two sets of terms of employment, but it has also made clear its ambition to ensure that DECC is a great place to work, with a diverse staff efficiently deployed in challenging and fulfilling roles.
DECC Legal Services and the Offices of the Chief Economist and Chief Scientific Adviser ensure staff across the Department have access to high quality professional advice and support for policy and delivery functions and that the Department’s strategy and objectives are underpinned by a solid evidence base.
The Strategy Team is responsible for ensuring that DECC has a strong and coherent strategy, with a clear mission statement and narrative about what DECC is seeking to achieve and how. Its role involves horizon scanning to ensure major issues with strategic implications for DECC are picked up early.
CSSS also includes the Office of Climate Change (OCC), which works across Government to support analytical work on climate change and the development of energy and climate change policy and strategy.
The Group leads on the following departmental objective:
• Secure global commitments which prevent dangerous climate change.
It also contributes to the following DECC objectives:
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the UK;
• Ensure secure energy supplies;
• Meet energy and climate change objectives fairly at home and abroad;
• Develop DECC’s capability and capacity, systems and relationships so that we improve our engagement with, and deliver effectively for, the public.
The ECCI Group therefore works, within the context of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, on policy development and analysis, international negotiations, and campaigning, for which purpose it has established a Road to Copenhagen (R2C) campaign centre. It aims to deliver a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions sufficient to keep the planet from warming by more than 20C above pre-industrial levels, and, as a result of collective action, a peak in global emissions no later than 2020, and a cut of at least 50% by 2050 (from 1990 levels). It is responsible for setting the strategic direction for policy on international energy security, European energy and climate policy and the international low-carbon technology agenda. It is also supporting the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on International Energy Security, former Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks, and will produce an implementation plan for delivering the recommendations of the Wicks Review.
Corporate Support and Shared Services Group (CSSS)
DECC’s CSSS Group provides the central support functions necessary to ensure the Department operates effectively and cost-effectively. These include: Human Resources, Finance & IT and Estates. It also works to agree arrangements for shared services with other Government Departments where joint arrangements can secure cost-effective, high-quality support.
The Group leads on the following departmental objective:
The Group leads on the following departmental objective:
• Develop DECC’s capability and capacity, systems and relationships so that we improve our engagement with, and deliver effectively for, the public.
Since the Department’s creation, a transition team within CSSS, known as the Building DECC Team, has worked to manage the logistical challenge of establishing a new department (in areas such as IT, HR, finance and accommodation). The Building DECC team is working with the Management Board and staff to develop and embed a shared culture and values for DECC.
The team also leads on ‘Greening DECC’, working to help make the Department a low-carbon leader across Government and beyond. Our headquarters are based in an old building just off Whitehall, which has a poor energy-efficiency rating (G), and we see this as an opportunity to demonstrate the improvements that can be made, even in a Grade II listed building in an architecturally sensitive area of London.
CSSS has responsibility for putting in place and operating effective governance structures which ensure the efficient and smooth running of the Department, including Boards for management, strategy and audit purposes. This also means ensuring effective corporate performance management and reporting is in place.
A Government department is first and foremost a group of people. DECC’s HR function has faced a number of immediate challenges, not least the need to harmonise two sets of terms of employment, but it has also made clear its ambition to ensure that DECC is a great place to work, with a diverse staff efficiently deployed in challenging and fulfilling roles.
DECC Legal Services and the Offices of the Chief Economist and Chief Scientific Adviser ensure staff across the Department have access to high quality professional advice and support for policy and delivery functions and that the Department’s strategy and objectives are underpinned by a solid evidence base.
The Strategy Team is responsible for ensuring that DECC has a strong and coherent strategy, with a clear mission statement and narrative about what DECC is seeking to achieve and how. Its role involves horizon scanning to ensure major issues with strategic implications for DECC are picked up early.
CSSS also includes the Office of Climate Change (OCC), which works across Government to support analytical work on climate change and the development of energy and climate change policy and strategy.
