UK DECC merged with BIS in cabinet overhaul

The UK Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has been merged with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) in a major reshuffle of the UK cabinet.

Greg Clark, former communities secretary, has been put in charge of the new Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. Parts of BIS have been moved to the education department.

On Twitter former energy secretary Edward Davey said the move is a huge set back to climate change work and warned that low carbon investor confidence will be hurt again.

DECC's end huge set back to climate change work. Downgrading Whitehall status of climate change hits low carbon investor confidence (again)

— Edward Davey (@EdwardJDavey) July 14, 2016

The changes unveiled by Theresa May after she took over as prime minister on Wednesday also saw the former DECC head, Amber Rudd, become home secretary, thus taking May's former post. Former energy minister Andrea Leadsom, meanwhile, has been appointed secretary of state for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Clark said in a statement: "I am thrilled to have been appointed to lead this new department charged with delivering a comprehensive industrial strategy, leading government’s relationship with business, furthering our world-class science base, delivering affordable, clean energy and tackling climate change."

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