The baffling internal mazes – both literal and bureaucratic – of large organizations continue to frustrate transformative change. The white-washed walls, the sterile air-conditioning, the faceless voice that speaks a united and impenetrable front to all outside of its security patrolled perimeter, construct the same repetitive monoliths across the world. Totalizing and distant, these strange anthropogenic webs push power to the peripheries of our society, more often than not out of sight and out of mind.

These large, faceless, acronymic IGOs, NGOs, NPOs, charities and philanthropic organizations tend to advocate for climate change action at a ‘systems level,’ arguing for a turn to the green economy through green industry, green business and green profit: Carbon reductions for margin increases.

After the rise of climate change awareness and activism in the 1960’s and its subsequent associations with the 60’s lifestyle, many groups acting on climate change have gone to great lengths to establish themselves as ‘professionals’ – ditching direct action in favour of direct phone calls to senior politicians.But does this systems-based approach, used by some of the most prominent environmental groups worldwide, in fact reify an unsustainable political economy of infinite growth on a finite planet?

The charitable-industrial complex – a term first coined in 2013 by the son of a billionaire philanthropist Peter Buffett – suggests that as wealth inequality widens charity becomes a channel to ‘launder’ the conscience of the rich whilst providing just enough for the poor: it ‘keeps the existing structure of inequality in place.’

The climate-industrial complex, then, allows rich nation states in the Global North to insist on mitigation measures in ‘developing’ economies whilst dragging their feet on transforming their own fossil-fuel intensive infrastructure. It also allows science to research adaptation methods with an historical amnesia regarding the contribution of already industrialized nations historical (and current) to carbon emissions. It allows too the continued plundering of resources and perpetuates the colonialism of extractive industry whilst creating space to both criticize the growth of ‘rapidly developing’ states and dismiss the rights, resilience and knowledge of Indigenous peoples and their alternate visions of development. 

Capitalizing on new markets for ‘sustainable’ goods simply reifies the neoliberal logic of exploitation that justifies the myth of infinite growth in free markets, increases the accumulation of wealth among the few, and continues to oppress people and the planet. Instead, we need to start thinking outside of the system we’re currently in, economics and all. This thinking doesn’t start with market logics, theories of ‘development’ or over-priced wholefoods stores located on High Streets that charge more for monthly rent then some people will earn in a year. It starts at home.

Last year at the talks for COP21 in Paris, Prince Charles said that reducing ‘only 1.7% of global annual consumption’ would put us on the ‘right low carbon path.’ When the 10 largest emitters are responsible for 72% of emissions and the smallest 100 are responsible for only 3%, it seems clear where the ability to enact real change lies. Yet, across the board we have seen very little policy and behavioral impetus to reduce consumption from the world’s biggest emitters and richest nation-states. Why is it that among those who are in the most privileged positions to enact the biggest change there is so little drive to accomplish it?

Perhaps it is sheer distance. It is now well-known that those who are least responsible for climate change are the most likely to have their lives impacted by its effects. For many in the Global South, climate change is a matter of survival. The representative for Nicaragua at COP21, Dr Paul Oquist, who refused to sign the Paris Agreement, argued that the tentative reductions by industrialized countries mean that even if the ‘floating’ 2 degrees Celsius target is met, it will result in the loss of jobs, food and lives across the Global South.

So why do we in the Global North continue to disavow what we know about climate change?

Beyond systems, change is embedded in identity and knowledge and values, in communities and in individuals. Often it is seen most in the things we are attached to emotionally: our long-haul holidays, our imported foods, our love of beef, those few extra degrees on the heating in wintertime, the glass bottle used for the wine we drink to celebrate a week’s hard work. It is already too late to wait for lifestyle subsidiaries like low carbon air-travel: we have to start the change ourselves.

There are modes of activism that attempt to enable us to do just that. Carbon Conversations is a six-part series that uses an understanding of values-based change to help us unlearn the climate-costly behaviours that have become intertwined with our understanding of who we are.

Even at a systems level, we are seeing an increase of institutes like the Green House Think Tank, the UK’s only post-growth think tank, consolidating itself as a fixture of the mainstream political establishment.

2016 has seen the opening of the Center for the Understanding of Sustainable Prosperity, a research center at Surrey University hoping to investigate and redefine ideas of growth, prosperity and happiness with the maxim: ‘How can we have more fun with less stuff?’ Also this year, Limits to Growth, the new All-Party Parliamentary Group has been started as a platform for ‘cross-party dialogue on economic growth in a time of environmental and social transition.’

Yet emotions and systems are not in binary opposition – they reflect, consolidate and change one another. Ultimately, however, the change relies on us, just as the Paris Agreement began with collective diplomatic efforts after the failed negotiations in Copenhagen in 2009.

Until we begin to address the values and emotions that drive our carbon consumption, that legitimize our colonial exploitation of communities and justify our pillaging of the planet, we cannot expect the market to make the shift to sustainability for us.

Climate justice begins at home.

This Author

Katie Arthur is one of the Ecologist’s NEW VOICES contributors. She is currently studying for a MSc in Comparative Media Studies at MIT, focusing on the decolonial intervention into climate change narratives and activism in the UK.  Katie has worked with the UNFCCC secretariat, The Surefoot Effect and the Glasgow University Environmental Sustainability Team. She has written for the MIT Center for Civic Media and Novara Media.

You can follow her on on the MIT Civic Media blog https://civic.mit.edu/users/katie-arthur or contact her by e-mail klarthur@mit.edu

Twitter: @ktlsrthr

Fresh evidence of links between the government and EDF Energy has led to concerns over the firm possibly receiving “preferential treatment” for its flagship nuclear project planned for Hinkley Point in Somerset.

Ten advisers and civil servants who worked at the now defunct Department for Energy Climate Change (DECC) in the last five years had ties to EDF, according to an analysis of online professional networking accounts by Energydesk.

This follows new Prime Minister Theresa May’s decision to hit the brakes on Hinkley, calling for a review of the project mere hours after the EDF board finally voted to approve it.

Under David Cameron’s premiership, however, Hinkley was a top priority for the government, with then Chancellor George Osborne determinedly putting together a deal involving both French and Chinese government investors.

Dearly departed DECC

Among the 10 EDF-linked government employees is a regulatory and licensing officer currently working for the French company – recently employed by DECC and previously an operating reactors programme manager at the Office for Nuclear Regulation.

There also features an EDF strategy manager, who has been working for the company since 2014 following a 13-month secondment to DECC’s commercial team (from October 2011) while at previous employer KPMG.

DECC’s commercial team played a crucial role in deciding to press ahead with the Hinkley project and NNB Generation Company Limited, an EDF subsidiary, submitted a proposal to the National Planning Inspectorate for a new nuclear power plant at Hinkley on October 31st 2011.

Centrica’s Sarwjit Sambhi told MPs on the Energy and Climate Change committee in June 2012: “On nuclear what is important is making progress on what’s termed the investment instrument or FID-enabling instruments and clearly the DECC commercial team is very much focused on arriving at an instrument that is investable.”

A communications worker currently employed at EDF was previously Senior Ministerial Visits Manager at DECC from the summer of 2013 until early this year. Energydesk also identified a policy adviser and analyst working at DECC who had recently held similar positions at EDF.

As of August 2015, the French energy giant had one member of staff seconded at the department. None of the other big six energy companies had staff seconded at the same time.

EDF’s ties to the UK government hit the headlines earlier this year when The Times revealed that former energy secretary Sir Edward Davey had taken up a job with a lobbying firm that lists it as a client.

Having struck the deal with the company to build the UK’s first new nuclear power station in a generation in 2013, Davey began a part-time job with MHP Communications shortly after leaving parliament.

‘One of the worst deals ever’ for UK consumers

The deal for Hinkley Point C has been heavily criticised on both sides of the political spectrum. George Osborne’s father-in-law, Lord Howell, dubbed the project “one of the worst deals ever“ for British consumers when speaking in the House of Lords last August.

Last month, the National Audit Office warned that Hinkley may cost UK taxpayers £30bn in top-up payments and suggested that pursuing renewable energy projects might prove to be the cheaper option.

Others have raised concerns about the construction materials and methods being used in Hinkley, while movements at the board room level at EDF have suggested disquiet about the project.

Caroline Lucas, the Green Party MP who has long been a critic of Hinkley and of the relationship between the government and big energy companies, told Energydesk: “Companies such as the big six energy firms do not lend their staff to government for nothing – they expect a certain degree of influence, insider knowledge and preferential treatment in return.

“At such a pivotal time in the UK’s energy and climate change policy, as ministers must get to grips with the realities of climate change, rising costs and energy insecurity, the strong presence of vested interests is a real cause for concern. Given the growing consensus across political divides that Hinkley C is a disastrous policy decision, these revelations add to the feeling that the democratic process may have been undermined.”

EDF: ‘valuable opportunities for career development’

In a statement, EDF defended its relationship with the UK government:

“From time to time Government invites applicants from industry to take on secondments to Government bodies, in order to ensure that Government has access to specialist knowledge, for example in the nuclear field.

“Wherever possible, we will respond positively to any invitations as this can provide valuable opportunities for career development and cross-fertilisation of ideas between the public and private sector.”

Energydesk asked the government for comment, but they failed to respond.

Joe Sandler-Clarke is a UK-based journalist specialising in investigative and public interest stories. His writing has been published in the Guardian, Independent, The Sunday Times, VICE and others, and he curently works at Greenpeace UK.

This article was originally published on Greenpeace Energydesk.

Fresh evidence of links between the government and EDF Energy has led to concerns over the firm possibly receiving “preferential treatment” for its flagship nuclear project planned for Hinkley Point in Somerset.

Ten advisers and civil servants who worked at the now defunct Department for Energy Climate Change (DECC) in the last five years had ties to EDF, according to an analysis of online professional networking accounts by Energydesk.

This follows new Prime Minister Theresa May’s decision to hit the brakes on Hinkley, calling for a review of the project mere hours after the EDF board finally voted to approve it.

Under David Cameron’s premiership, however, Hinkley was a top priority for the government, with then Chancellor George Osborne determinedly putting together a deal involving both French and Chinese government investors.

Dearly departed DECC

Among the 10 EDF-linked government employees is a regulatory and licensing officer currently working for the French company – recently employed by DECC and previously an operating reactors programme manager at the Office for Nuclear Regulation.

There also features an EDF strategy manager, who has been working for the company since 2014 following a 13-month secondment to DECC’s commercial team (from October 2011) while at previous employer KPMG.

DECC’s commercial team played a crucial role in deciding to press ahead with the Hinkley project and NNB Generation Company Limited, an EDF subsidiary, submitted a proposal to the National Planning Inspectorate for a new nuclear power plant at Hinkley on October 31st 2011.

Centrica’s Sarwjit Sambhi told MPs on the Energy and Climate Change committee in June 2012: “On nuclear what is important is making progress on what’s termed the investment instrument or FID-enabling instruments and clearly the DECC commercial team is very much focused on arriving at an instrument that is investable.”

A communications worker currently employed at EDF was previously Senior Ministerial Visits Manager at DECC from the summer of 2013 until early this year. Energydesk also identified a policy adviser and analyst working at DECC who had recently held similar positions at EDF.

As of August 2015, the French energy giant had one member of staff seconded at the department. None of the other big six energy companies had staff seconded at the same time.

EDF’s ties to the UK government hit the headlines earlier this year when The Times revealed that former energy secretary Sir Edward Davey had taken up a job with a lobbying firm that lists it as a client.

Having struck the deal with the company to build the UK’s first new nuclear power station in a generation in 2013, Davey began a part-time job with MHP Communications shortly after leaving parliament.

‘One of the worst deals ever’ for UK consumers

The deal for Hinkley Point C has been heavily criticised on both sides of the political spectrum. George Osborne’s father-in-law, Lord Howell, dubbed the project “one of the worst deals ever“ for British consumers when speaking in the House of Lords last August.

Last month, the National Audit Office warned that Hinkley may cost UK taxpayers £30bn in top-up payments and suggested that pursuing renewable energy projects might prove to be the cheaper option.

Others have raised concerns about the construction materials and methods being used in Hinkley, while movements at the board room level at EDF have suggested disquiet about the project.

Caroline Lucas, the Green Party MP who has long been a critic of Hinkley and of the relationship between the government and big energy companies, told Energydesk: “Companies such as the big six energy firms do not lend their staff to government for nothing – they expect a certain degree of influence, insider knowledge and preferential treatment in return.

“At such a pivotal time in the UK’s energy and climate change policy, as ministers must get to grips with the realities of climate change, rising costs and energy insecurity, the strong presence of vested interests is a real cause for concern. Given the growing consensus across political divides that Hinkley C is a disastrous policy decision, these revelations add to the feeling that the democratic process may have been undermined.”

EDF: ‘valuable opportunities for career development’

In a statement, EDF defended its relationship with the UK government:

“From time to time Government invites applicants from industry to take on secondments to Government bodies, in order to ensure that Government has access to specialist knowledge, for example in the nuclear field.

“Wherever possible, we will respond positively to any invitations as this can provide valuable opportunities for career development and cross-fertilisation of ideas between the public and private sector.”

Energydesk asked the government for comment, but they failed to respond.

Joe Sandler-Clarke is a UK-based journalist specialising in investigative and public interest stories. His writing has been published in the Guardian, Independent, The Sunday Times, VICE and others, and he curently works at Greenpeace UK.

This article was originally published on Greenpeace Energydesk.

Fresh evidence of links between the government and EDF Energy has led to concerns over the firm possibly receiving “preferential treatment” for its flagship nuclear project planned for Hinkley Point in Somerset.

Ten advisers and civil servants who worked at the now defunct Department for Energy Climate Change (DECC) in the last five years had ties to EDF, according to an analysis of online professional networking accounts by Energydesk.

This follows new Prime Minister Theresa May’s decision to hit the brakes on Hinkley, calling for a review of the project mere hours after the EDF board finally voted to approve it.

Under David Cameron’s premiership, however, Hinkley was a top priority for the government, with then Chancellor George Osborne determinedly putting together a deal involving both French and Chinese government investors.

Dearly departed DECC

Among the 10 EDF-linked government employees is a regulatory and licensing officer currently working for the French company – recently employed by DECC and previously an operating reactors programme manager at the Office for Nuclear Regulation.

There also features an EDF strategy manager, who has been working for the company since 2014 following a 13-month secondment to DECC’s commercial team (from October 2011) while at previous employer KPMG.

DECC’s commercial team played a crucial role in deciding to press ahead with the Hinkley project and NNB Generation Company Limited, an EDF subsidiary, submitted a proposal to the National Planning Inspectorate for a new nuclear power plant at Hinkley on October 31st 2011.

Centrica’s Sarwjit Sambhi told MPs on the Energy and Climate Change committee in June 2012: “On nuclear what is important is making progress on what’s termed the investment instrument or FID-enabling instruments and clearly the DECC commercial team is very much focused on arriving at an instrument that is investable.”

A communications worker currently employed at EDF was previously Senior Ministerial Visits Manager at DECC from the summer of 2013 until early this year. Energydesk also identified a policy adviser and analyst working at DECC who had recently held similar positions at EDF.

As of August 2015, the French energy giant had one member of staff seconded at the department. None of the other big six energy companies had staff seconded at the same time.

EDF’s ties to the UK government hit the headlines earlier this year when The Times revealed that former energy secretary Sir Edward Davey had taken up a job with a lobbying firm that lists it as a client.

Having struck the deal with the company to build the UK’s first new nuclear power station in a generation in 2013, Davey began a part-time job with MHP Communications shortly after leaving parliament.

‘One of the worst deals ever’ for UK consumers

The deal for Hinkley Point C has been heavily criticised on both sides of the political spectrum. George Osborne’s father-in-law, Lord Howell, dubbed the project “one of the worst deals ever“ for British consumers when speaking in the House of Lords last August.

Last month, the National Audit Office warned that Hinkley may cost UK taxpayers £30bn in top-up payments and suggested that pursuing renewable energy projects might prove to be the cheaper option.

Others have raised concerns about the construction materials and methods being used in Hinkley, while movements at the board room level at EDF have suggested disquiet about the project.

Caroline Lucas, the Green Party MP who has long been a critic of Hinkley and of the relationship between the government and big energy companies, told Energydesk: “Companies such as the big six energy firms do not lend their staff to government for nothing – they expect a certain degree of influence, insider knowledge and preferential treatment in return.

“At such a pivotal time in the UK’s energy and climate change policy, as ministers must get to grips with the realities of climate change, rising costs and energy insecurity, the strong presence of vested interests is a real cause for concern. Given the growing consensus across political divides that Hinkley C is a disastrous policy decision, these revelations add to the feeling that the democratic process may have been undermined.”

EDF: ‘valuable opportunities for career development’

In a statement, EDF defended its relationship with the UK government:

“From time to time Government invites applicants from industry to take on secondments to Government bodies, in order to ensure that Government has access to specialist knowledge, for example in the nuclear field.

“Wherever possible, we will respond positively to any invitations as this can provide valuable opportunities for career development and cross-fertilisation of ideas between the public and private sector.”

Energydesk asked the government for comment, but they failed to respond.

Joe Sandler-Clarke is a UK-based journalist specialising in investigative and public interest stories. His writing has been published in the Guardian, Independent, The Sunday Times, VICE and others, and he curently works at Greenpeace UK.

This article was originally published on Greenpeace Energydesk.

Fresh evidence of links between the government and EDF Energy has led to concerns over the firm possibly receiving “preferential treatment” for its flagship nuclear project planned for Hinkley Point in Somerset.

Ten advisers and civil servants who worked at the now defunct Department for Energy Climate Change (DECC) in the last five years had ties to EDF, according to an analysis of online professional networking accounts by Energydesk.

This follows new Prime Minister Theresa May’s decision to hit the brakes on Hinkley, calling for a review of the project mere hours after the EDF board finally voted to approve it.

Under David Cameron’s premiership, however, Hinkley was a top priority for the government, with then Chancellor George Osborne determinedly putting together a deal involving both French and Chinese government investors.

Dearly departed DECC

Among the 10 EDF-linked government employees is a regulatory and licensing officer currently working for the French company – recently employed by DECC and previously an operating reactors programme manager at the Office for Nuclear Regulation.

There also features an EDF strategy manager, who has been working for the company since 2014 following a 13-month secondment to DECC’s commercial team (from October 2011) while at previous employer KPMG.

DECC’s commercial team played a crucial role in deciding to press ahead with the Hinkley project and NNB Generation Company Limited, an EDF subsidiary, submitted a proposal to the National Planning Inspectorate for a new nuclear power plant at Hinkley on October 31st 2011.

Centrica’s Sarwjit Sambhi told MPs on the Energy and Climate Change committee in June 2012: “On nuclear what is important is making progress on what’s termed the investment instrument or FID-enabling instruments and clearly the DECC commercial team is very much focused on arriving at an instrument that is investable.”

A communications worker currently employed at EDF was previously Senior Ministerial Visits Manager at DECC from the summer of 2013 until early this year. Energydesk also identified a policy adviser and analyst working at DECC who had recently held similar positions at EDF.

As of August 2015, the French energy giant had one member of staff seconded at the department. None of the other big six energy companies had staff seconded at the same time.

EDF’s ties to the UK government hit the headlines earlier this year when The Times revealed that former energy secretary Sir Edward Davey had taken up a job with a lobbying firm that lists it as a client.

Having struck the deal with the company to build the UK’s first new nuclear power station in a generation in 2013, Davey began a part-time job with MHP Communications shortly after leaving parliament.

‘One of the worst deals ever’ for UK consumers

The deal for Hinkley Point C has been heavily criticised on both sides of the political spectrum. George Osborne’s father-in-law, Lord Howell, dubbed the project “one of the worst deals ever“ for British consumers when speaking in the House of Lords last August.

Last month, the National Audit Office warned that Hinkley may cost UK taxpayers £30bn in top-up payments and suggested that pursuing renewable energy projects might prove to be the cheaper option.

Others have raised concerns about the construction materials and methods being used in Hinkley, while movements at the board room level at EDF have suggested disquiet about the project.

Caroline Lucas, the Green Party MP who has long been a critic of Hinkley and of the relationship between the government and big energy companies, told Energydesk: “Companies such as the big six energy firms do not lend their staff to government for nothing – they expect a certain degree of influence, insider knowledge and preferential treatment in return.

“At such a pivotal time in the UK’s energy and climate change policy, as ministers must get to grips with the realities of climate change, rising costs and energy insecurity, the strong presence of vested interests is a real cause for concern. Given the growing consensus across political divides that Hinkley C is a disastrous policy decision, these revelations add to the feeling that the democratic process may have been undermined.”

EDF: ‘valuable opportunities for career development’

In a statement, EDF defended its relationship with the UK government:

“From time to time Government invites applicants from industry to take on secondments to Government bodies, in order to ensure that Government has access to specialist knowledge, for example in the nuclear field.

“Wherever possible, we will respond positively to any invitations as this can provide valuable opportunities for career development and cross-fertilisation of ideas between the public and private sector.”

Energydesk asked the government for comment, but they failed to respond.

Joe Sandler-Clarke is a UK-based journalist specialising in investigative and public interest stories. His writing has been published in the Guardian, Independent, The Sunday Times, VICE and others, and he curently works at Greenpeace UK.

This article was originally published on Greenpeace Energydesk.

Fresh evidence of links between the government and EDF Energy has led to concerns over the firm possibly receiving “preferential treatment” for its flagship nuclear project planned for Hinkley Point in Somerset.

Ten advisers and civil servants who worked at the now defunct Department for Energy Climate Change (DECC) in the last five years had ties to EDF, according to an analysis of online professional networking accounts by Energydesk.

This follows new Prime Minister Theresa May’s decision to hit the brakes on Hinkley, calling for a review of the project mere hours after the EDF board finally voted to approve it.

Under David Cameron’s premiership, however, Hinkley was a top priority for the government, with then Chancellor George Osborne determinedly putting together a deal involving both French and Chinese government investors.

Dearly departed DECC

Among the 10 EDF-linked government employees is a regulatory and licensing officer currently working for the French company – recently employed by DECC and previously an operating reactors programme manager at the Office for Nuclear Regulation.

There also features an EDF strategy manager, who has been working for the company since 2014 following a 13-month secondment to DECC’s commercial team (from October 2011) while at previous employer KPMG.

DECC’s commercial team played a crucial role in deciding to press ahead with the Hinkley project and NNB Generation Company Limited, an EDF subsidiary, submitted a proposal to the National Planning Inspectorate for a new nuclear power plant at Hinkley on October 31st 2011.

Centrica’s Sarwjit Sambhi told MPs on the Energy and Climate Change committee in June 2012: “On nuclear what is important is making progress on what’s termed the investment instrument or FID-enabling instruments and clearly the DECC commercial team is very much focused on arriving at an instrument that is investable.”

A communications worker currently employed at EDF was previously Senior Ministerial Visits Manager at DECC from the summer of 2013 until early this year. Energydesk also identified a policy adviser and analyst working at DECC who had recently held similar positions at EDF.

As of August 2015, the French energy giant had one member of staff seconded at the department. None of the other big six energy companies had staff seconded at the same time.

EDF’s ties to the UK government hit the headlines earlier this year when The Times revealed that former energy secretary Sir Edward Davey had taken up a job with a lobbying firm that lists it as a client.

Having struck the deal with the company to build the UK’s first new nuclear power station in a generation in 2013, Davey began a part-time job with MHP Communications shortly after leaving parliament.

‘One of the worst deals ever’ for UK consumers

The deal for Hinkley Point C has been heavily criticised on both sides of the political spectrum. George Osborne’s father-in-law, Lord Howell, dubbed the project “one of the worst deals ever“ for British consumers when speaking in the House of Lords last August.

Last month, the National Audit Office warned that Hinkley may cost UK taxpayers £30bn in top-up payments and suggested that pursuing renewable energy projects might prove to be the cheaper option.

Others have raised concerns about the construction materials and methods being used in Hinkley, while movements at the board room level at EDF have suggested disquiet about the project.

Caroline Lucas, the Green Party MP who has long been a critic of Hinkley and of the relationship between the government and big energy companies, told Energydesk: “Companies such as the big six energy firms do not lend their staff to government for nothing – they expect a certain degree of influence, insider knowledge and preferential treatment in return.

“At such a pivotal time in the UK’s energy and climate change policy, as ministers must get to grips with the realities of climate change, rising costs and energy insecurity, the strong presence of vested interests is a real cause for concern. Given the growing consensus across political divides that Hinkley C is a disastrous policy decision, these revelations add to the feeling that the democratic process may have been undermined.”

EDF: ‘valuable opportunities for career development’

In a statement, EDF defended its relationship with the UK government:

“From time to time Government invites applicants from industry to take on secondments to Government bodies, in order to ensure that Government has access to specialist knowledge, for example in the nuclear field.

“Wherever possible, we will respond positively to any invitations as this can provide valuable opportunities for career development and cross-fertilisation of ideas between the public and private sector.”

Energydesk asked the government for comment, but they failed to respond.

Joe Sandler-Clarke is a UK-based journalist specialising in investigative and public interest stories. His writing has been published in the Guardian, Independent, The Sunday Times, VICE and others, and he curently works at Greenpeace UK.

This article was originally published on Greenpeace Energydesk.

Fresh evidence of links between the government and EDF Energy has led to concerns over the firm possibly receiving “preferential treatment” for its flagship nuclear project planned for Hinkley Point in Somerset.

Ten advisers and civil servants who worked at the now defunct Department for Energy Climate Change (DECC) in the last five years had ties to EDF, according to an analysis of online professional networking accounts by Energydesk.

This follows new Prime Minister Theresa May’s decision to hit the brakes on Hinkley, calling for a review of the project mere hours after the EDF board finally voted to approve it.

Under David Cameron’s premiership, however, Hinkley was a top priority for the government, with then Chancellor George Osborne determinedly putting together a deal involving both French and Chinese government investors.

Dearly departed DECC

Among the 10 EDF-linked government employees is a regulatory and licensing officer currently working for the French company – recently employed by DECC and previously an operating reactors programme manager at the Office for Nuclear Regulation.

There also features an EDF strategy manager, who has been working for the company since 2014 following a 13-month secondment to DECC’s commercial team (from October 2011) while at previous employer KPMG.

DECC’s commercial team played a crucial role in deciding to press ahead with the Hinkley project and NNB Generation Company Limited, an EDF subsidiary, submitted a proposal to the National Planning Inspectorate for a new nuclear power plant at Hinkley on October 31st 2011.

Centrica’s Sarwjit Sambhi told MPs on the Energy and Climate Change committee in June 2012: “On nuclear what is important is making progress on what’s termed the investment instrument or FID-enabling instruments and clearly the DECC commercial team is very much focused on arriving at an instrument that is investable.”

A communications worker currently employed at EDF was previously Senior Ministerial Visits Manager at DECC from the summer of 2013 until early this year. Energydesk also identified a policy adviser and analyst working at DECC who had recently held similar positions at EDF.

As of August 2015, the French energy giant had one member of staff seconded at the department. None of the other big six energy companies had staff seconded at the same time.

EDF’s ties to the UK government hit the headlines earlier this year when The Times revealed that former energy secretary Sir Edward Davey had taken up a job with a lobbying firm that lists it as a client.

Having struck the deal with the company to build the UK’s first new nuclear power station in a generation in 2013, Davey began a part-time job with MHP Communications shortly after leaving parliament.

‘One of the worst deals ever’ for UK consumers

The deal for Hinkley Point C has been heavily criticised on both sides of the political spectrum. George Osborne’s father-in-law, Lord Howell, dubbed the project “one of the worst deals ever“ for British consumers when speaking in the House of Lords last August.

Last month, the National Audit Office warned that Hinkley may cost UK taxpayers £30bn in top-up payments and suggested that pursuing renewable energy projects might prove to be the cheaper option.

Others have raised concerns about the construction materials and methods being used in Hinkley, while movements at the board room level at EDF have suggested disquiet about the project.

Caroline Lucas, the Green Party MP who has long been a critic of Hinkley and of the relationship between the government and big energy companies, told Energydesk: “Companies such as the big six energy firms do not lend their staff to government for nothing – they expect a certain degree of influence, insider knowledge and preferential treatment in return.

“At such a pivotal time in the UK’s energy and climate change policy, as ministers must get to grips with the realities of climate change, rising costs and energy insecurity, the strong presence of vested interests is a real cause for concern. Given the growing consensus across political divides that Hinkley C is a disastrous policy decision, these revelations add to the feeling that the democratic process may have been undermined.”

EDF: ‘valuable opportunities for career development’

In a statement, EDF defended its relationship with the UK government:

“From time to time Government invites applicants from industry to take on secondments to Government bodies, in order to ensure that Government has access to specialist knowledge, for example in the nuclear field.

“Wherever possible, we will respond positively to any invitations as this can provide valuable opportunities for career development and cross-fertilisation of ideas between the public and private sector.”

Energydesk asked the government for comment, but they failed to respond.

Joe Sandler-Clarke is a UK-based journalist specialising in investigative and public interest stories. His writing has been published in the Guardian, Independent, The Sunday Times, VICE and others, and he curently works at Greenpeace UK.

This article was originally published on Greenpeace Energydesk.

Fresh evidence of links between the government and EDF Energy has led to concerns over the firm possibly receiving “preferential treatment” for its flagship nuclear project planned for Hinkley Point in Somerset.

Ten advisers and civil servants who worked at the now defunct Department for Energy Climate Change (DECC) in the last five years had ties to EDF, according to an analysis of online professional networking accounts by Energydesk.

This follows new Prime Minister Theresa May’s decision to hit the brakes on Hinkley, calling for a review of the project mere hours after the EDF board finally voted to approve it.

Under David Cameron’s premiership, however, Hinkley was a top priority for the government, with then Chancellor George Osborne determinedly putting together a deal involving both French and Chinese government investors.

Dearly departed DECC

Among the 10 EDF-linked government employees is a regulatory and licensing officer currently working for the French company – recently employed by DECC and previously an operating reactors programme manager at the Office for Nuclear Regulation.

There also features an EDF strategy manager, who has been working for the company since 2014 following a 13-month secondment to DECC’s commercial team (from October 2011) while at previous employer KPMG.

DECC’s commercial team played a crucial role in deciding to press ahead with the Hinkley project and NNB Generation Company Limited, an EDF subsidiary, submitted a proposal to the National Planning Inspectorate for a new nuclear power plant at Hinkley on October 31st 2011.

Centrica’s Sarwjit Sambhi told MPs on the Energy and Climate Change committee in June 2012: “On nuclear what is important is making progress on what’s termed the investment instrument or FID-enabling instruments and clearly the DECC commercial team is very much focused on arriving at an instrument that is investable.”

A communications worker currently employed at EDF was previously Senior Ministerial Visits Manager at DECC from the summer of 2013 until early this year. Energydesk also identified a policy adviser and analyst working at DECC who had recently held similar positions at EDF.

As of August 2015, the French energy giant had one member of staff seconded at the department. None of the other big six energy companies had staff seconded at the same time.

EDF’s ties to the UK government hit the headlines earlier this year when The Times revealed that former energy secretary Sir Edward Davey had taken up a job with a lobbying firm that lists it as a client.

Having struck the deal with the company to build the UK’s first new nuclear power station in a generation in 2013, Davey began a part-time job with MHP Communications shortly after leaving parliament.

‘One of the worst deals ever’ for UK consumers

The deal for Hinkley Point C has been heavily criticised on both sides of the political spectrum. George Osborne’s father-in-law, Lord Howell, dubbed the project “one of the worst deals ever“ for British consumers when speaking in the House of Lords last August.

Last month, the National Audit Office warned that Hinkley may cost UK taxpayers £30bn in top-up payments and suggested that pursuing renewable energy projects might prove to be the cheaper option.

Others have raised concerns about the construction materials and methods being used in Hinkley, while movements at the board room level at EDF have suggested disquiet about the project.

Caroline Lucas, the Green Party MP who has long been a critic of Hinkley and of the relationship between the government and big energy companies, told Energydesk: “Companies such as the big six energy firms do not lend their staff to government for nothing – they expect a certain degree of influence, insider knowledge and preferential treatment in return.

“At such a pivotal time in the UK’s energy and climate change policy, as ministers must get to grips with the realities of climate change, rising costs and energy insecurity, the strong presence of vested interests is a real cause for concern. Given the growing consensus across political divides that Hinkley C is a disastrous policy decision, these revelations add to the feeling that the democratic process may have been undermined.”

EDF: ‘valuable opportunities for career development’

In a statement, EDF defended its relationship with the UK government:

“From time to time Government invites applicants from industry to take on secondments to Government bodies, in order to ensure that Government has access to specialist knowledge, for example in the nuclear field.

“Wherever possible, we will respond positively to any invitations as this can provide valuable opportunities for career development and cross-fertilisation of ideas between the public and private sector.”

Energydesk asked the government for comment, but they failed to respond.

Joe Sandler-Clarke is a UK-based journalist specialising in investigative and public interest stories. His writing has been published in the Guardian, Independent, The Sunday Times, VICE and others, and he curently works at Greenpeace UK.

This article was originally published on Greenpeace Energydesk.

Fresh evidence of links between the government and EDF Energy has led to concerns over the firm possibly receiving “preferential treatment” for its flagship nuclear project planned for Hinkley Point in Somerset.

Ten advisers and civil servants who worked at the now defunct Department for Energy Climate Change (DECC) in the last five years had ties to EDF, according to an analysis of online professional networking accounts by Energydesk.

This follows new Prime Minister Theresa May’s decision to hit the brakes on Hinkley, calling for a review of the project mere hours after the EDF board finally voted to approve it.

Under David Cameron’s premiership, however, Hinkley was a top priority for the government, with then Chancellor George Osborne determinedly putting together a deal involving both French and Chinese government investors.

Dearly departed DECC

Among the 10 EDF-linked government employees is a regulatory and licensing officer currently working for the French company – recently employed by DECC and previously an operating reactors programme manager at the Office for Nuclear Regulation.

There also features an EDF strategy manager, who has been working for the company since 2014 following a 13-month secondment to DECC’s commercial team (from October 2011) while at previous employer KPMG.

DECC’s commercial team played a crucial role in deciding to press ahead with the Hinkley project and NNB Generation Company Limited, an EDF subsidiary, submitted a proposal to the National Planning Inspectorate for a new nuclear power plant at Hinkley on October 31st 2011.

Centrica’s Sarwjit Sambhi told MPs on the Energy and Climate Change committee in June 2012: “On nuclear what is important is making progress on what’s termed the investment instrument or FID-enabling instruments and clearly the DECC commercial team is very much focused on arriving at an instrument that is investable.”

A communications worker currently employed at EDF was previously Senior Ministerial Visits Manager at DECC from the summer of 2013 until early this year. Energydesk also identified a policy adviser and analyst working at DECC who had recently held similar positions at EDF.

As of August 2015, the French energy giant had one member of staff seconded at the department. None of the other big six energy companies had staff seconded at the same time.

EDF’s ties to the UK government hit the headlines earlier this year when The Times revealed that former energy secretary Sir Edward Davey had taken up a job with a lobbying firm that lists it as a client.

Having struck the deal with the company to build the UK’s first new nuclear power station in a generation in 2013, Davey began a part-time job with MHP Communications shortly after leaving parliament.

‘One of the worst deals ever’ for UK consumers

The deal for Hinkley Point C has been heavily criticised on both sides of the political spectrum. George Osborne’s father-in-law, Lord Howell, dubbed the project “one of the worst deals ever“ for British consumers when speaking in the House of Lords last August.

Last month, the National Audit Office warned that Hinkley may cost UK taxpayers £30bn in top-up payments and suggested that pursuing renewable energy projects might prove to be the cheaper option.

Others have raised concerns about the construction materials and methods being used in Hinkley, while movements at the board room level at EDF have suggested disquiet about the project.

Caroline Lucas, the Green Party MP who has long been a critic of Hinkley and of the relationship between the government and big energy companies, told Energydesk: “Companies such as the big six energy firms do not lend their staff to government for nothing – they expect a certain degree of influence, insider knowledge and preferential treatment in return.

“At such a pivotal time in the UK’s energy and climate change policy, as ministers must get to grips with the realities of climate change, rising costs and energy insecurity, the strong presence of vested interests is a real cause for concern. Given the growing consensus across political divides that Hinkley C is a disastrous policy decision, these revelations add to the feeling that the democratic process may have been undermined.”

EDF: ‘valuable opportunities for career development’

In a statement, EDF defended its relationship with the UK government:

“From time to time Government invites applicants from industry to take on secondments to Government bodies, in order to ensure that Government has access to specialist knowledge, for example in the nuclear field.

“Wherever possible, we will respond positively to any invitations as this can provide valuable opportunities for career development and cross-fertilisation of ideas between the public and private sector.”

Energydesk asked the government for comment, but they failed to respond.

Joe Sandler-Clarke is a UK-based journalist specialising in investigative and public interest stories. His writing has been published in the Guardian, Independent, The Sunday Times, VICE and others, and he curently works at Greenpeace UK.

This article was originally published on Greenpeace Energydesk.

Fresh evidence of links between the government and EDF Energy has led to concerns over the firm possibly receiving “preferential treatment” for its flagship nuclear project planned for Hinkley Point in Somerset.

Ten advisers and civil servants who worked at the now defunct Department for Energy Climate Change (DECC) in the last five years had ties to EDF, according to an analysis of online professional networking accounts by Energydesk.

This follows new Prime Minister Theresa May’s decision to hit the brakes on Hinkley, calling for a review of the project mere hours after the EDF board finally voted to approve it.

Under David Cameron’s premiership, however, Hinkley was a top priority for the government, with then Chancellor George Osborne determinedly putting together a deal involving both French and Chinese government investors.

Dearly departed DECC

Among the 10 EDF-linked government employees is a regulatory and licensing officer currently working for the French company – recently employed by DECC and previously an operating reactors programme manager at the Office for Nuclear Regulation.

There also features an EDF strategy manager, who has been working for the company since 2014 following a 13-month secondment to DECC’s commercial team (from October 2011) while at previous employer KPMG.

DECC’s commercial team played a crucial role in deciding to press ahead with the Hinkley project and NNB Generation Company Limited, an EDF subsidiary, submitted a proposal to the National Planning Inspectorate for a new nuclear power plant at Hinkley on October 31st 2011.

Centrica’s Sarwjit Sambhi told MPs on the Energy and Climate Change committee in June 2012: “On nuclear what is important is making progress on what’s termed the investment instrument or FID-enabling instruments and clearly the DECC commercial team is very much focused on arriving at an instrument that is investable.”

A communications worker currently employed at EDF was previously Senior Ministerial Visits Manager at DECC from the summer of 2013 until early this year. Energydesk also identified a policy adviser and analyst working at DECC who had recently held similar positions at EDF.

As of August 2015, the French energy giant had one member of staff seconded at the department. None of the other big six energy companies had staff seconded at the same time.

EDF’s ties to the UK government hit the headlines earlier this year when The Times revealed that former energy secretary Sir Edward Davey had taken up a job with a lobbying firm that lists it as a client.

Having struck the deal with the company to build the UK’s first new nuclear power station in a generation in 2013, Davey began a part-time job with MHP Communications shortly after leaving parliament.

‘One of the worst deals ever’ for UK consumers

The deal for Hinkley Point C has been heavily criticised on both sides of the political spectrum. George Osborne’s father-in-law, Lord Howell, dubbed the project “one of the worst deals ever“ for British consumers when speaking in the House of Lords last August.

Last month, the National Audit Office warned that Hinkley may cost UK taxpayers £30bn in top-up payments and suggested that pursuing renewable energy projects might prove to be the cheaper option.

Others have raised concerns about the construction materials and methods being used in Hinkley, while movements at the board room level at EDF have suggested disquiet about the project.

Caroline Lucas, the Green Party MP who has long been a critic of Hinkley and of the relationship between the government and big energy companies, told Energydesk: “Companies such as the big six energy firms do not lend their staff to government for nothing – they expect a certain degree of influence, insider knowledge and preferential treatment in return.

“At such a pivotal time in the UK’s energy and climate change policy, as ministers must get to grips with the realities of climate change, rising costs and energy insecurity, the strong presence of vested interests is a real cause for concern. Given the growing consensus across political divides that Hinkley C is a disastrous policy decision, these revelations add to the feeling that the democratic process may have been undermined.”

EDF: ‘valuable opportunities for career development’

In a statement, EDF defended its relationship with the UK government:

“From time to time Government invites applicants from industry to take on secondments to Government bodies, in order to ensure that Government has access to specialist knowledge, for example in the nuclear field.

“Wherever possible, we will respond positively to any invitations as this can provide valuable opportunities for career development and cross-fertilisation of ideas between the public and private sector.”

Energydesk asked the government for comment, but they failed to respond.

Joe Sandler-Clarke is a UK-based journalist specialising in investigative and public interest stories. His writing has been published in the Guardian, Independent, The Sunday Times, VICE and others, and he curently works at Greenpeace UK.

This article was originally published on Greenpeace Energydesk.