Chris Skidmore will be speaking on the future of net zero and the UK’s commitment to deliver on its climate targets, where future focus needs to be on international climate approaches and his work to deliver net zero outside of politics, through establishing the Climate Action Coalition and Desmos Capital.

Chris Skidmore was the UK Energy Minister attending Cabinet responsible for signing the UK’s net zero commitment into law— becoming the first G7 country to do so. He also helped secure the UK’s Presidency of COP26. In 2022, Chris was appointed by the UK Government to chair the Net Zero Review, publishing the widely-acclaimed Mission Zero report in January 2023, which was described by Lord Nicholas Stern as ‘a remarkable and important piece of work’ (Mission Zero | Biteback Publishing). The Net Zero Review was the largest engagement exercise on net zero in the UK, engaging with over 2,800 businesses. For his work, in 2023, Chris was awarded Politician of the Year at the UK Green Business Awards, and Political Figure of the Year at the British Renewable Energy Awards 2023.

Chris was Member of Parliament for Kingswood between 2010-2024, during which time he also served as Minister for the Constitution, Minister for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation and Minister for Health. He also was Chair of the All Party Group on the Environment. He resigned from Parliament in January 2024 in protest at new legislation promoting additional oil and gas licences.

Between 2021-2023 Chris was a Senior Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School and in 2023-24 a Visiting Fellow at Oxford University. He is currently a Professor at Bath University.

Chris is currently Chair of the Climate Action Coalition, launched by Secretary John Kerry in June 2024, and a founding partner of Desmos Capital Partners, an advisory investment bank that supports new technologies and sustainable businesses. He is also Chief Operating Officer of Better Earth, and a founding advisor of Smart Society Ventures.