Rachel Kyte, the new UK special representative on climate, advised the UK government as host of the Cop26 summit in Glasgow in 2021, one of several globally recognised climate and governance experts to do so. But her advice appeared to make little impact on Johnson’s Tory successors, especially when as prime minister Rishi Sunak dismayed allied governments and exasperated campaigners by drastically dialling down the UK’s global role at climate talks.
In her new role, she will have the backing of the foreign secretary, David Lammy, and the energy secretary, Ed Miliband, in making the UK’s case for concerted climate action before it is too late.
Known for her forthright manner and striking turn of phrase – she memorably told the Guardian in the lead-up to Cop26 that the UK’s seemingly haphazard approach was “like dad-dancing – it’s not that they’re evil, just very uncoordinated” – Kyte has been a familiar figure at climate meetings for more than a decade. Most recently, she was professor of politics at the Blavatnik school of government, part of Oxford University. Before that, she was dean of the Fletcher school at the prestigious Tufts University in the US. She graduated in history and politics from the University of London.
After leaving her role as the most senior official on climate at the World Bank in 2015, she served as special representative on sustainable energy to António Guterres, the UN secretary general, and was chief executive of the Sustainable Energy for All initiative, which aims to help the more than 1 billion people without access to electricity. She also sits on several boards and committees, including the voluntary carbon markets integrity initiative, and is an expert on reform of the development banks.
In fact, according to Tom Burke, co-founder of the environmental thinktank E3G, her global recognition in climate circles could prove a source of tension with her new employers. “It’s an odd appointment, as she has a higher profile and a wider network internationally than either of the sponsoring secretaries of state [Lammy and Miliband],” he said. “That’s puzzling.”
But other climate experts and campaigners contacted by the Guardian were enthusiastic about the appointment. Prof Nicholas Stern, the economist, said: “Rachel Kyte is one of the truly outstanding figures in public policy on climate and energy. As well as a very clear and creative analytical mind, she has had tremendous experience in senior positions in the World Bank, in the UN, in academic life and in international negotiations. This is excellent news for the UK and the world.”
Areeba Hamid, co-executive director of Greenpeace UK, said: “Rachel Kyte looks to be an excellent choice as climate envoy but she has her work cut out. Her background working in climate finance will be crucial to ensure the UK is a leading voice in calling for an improved financial package, paid for by fossil fuel companies, for countries that are struggling to keep their heads above the rising tide of climate impacts. She will need true grit to keep driving for a phase-out of fossil fuels, while resisting the siren calls of petro-states, industry lobbyists and the ‘carbon offsets’ sector. But it is vital she has the full backing of the cabinet and diplomats so she can go about her work with authority and re-establish the UK’s tarnished reputation as a climate leader on the world stage.”
In recognition of her work, Kyte was made a companion of St Michael and St George, one of the UK’s top honours, in 2020.