THE UK Government’s former chief Brexit negotiator has joined the ranks of an anti-net-zero lobby group.
Lord Frost held various roles pertaining to the Brexit negotiation during Boris Johnson’s tenure as prime minister, including as chief negotiator for Exiting the European Union and as chairman of the EU-UK Partnership Council.
He was made a life peer in the House of Lords in 2020 before leaving government the following year, citing Boris Johnson’s net-zero commitments and Covid-19 regulations as contributing factors to his decision.
Now the former CEO of the Scotch Whisky Association has joined the Board of Trustees of the Global Warming Policy Foundation.
Following the announcement of his new job role Lord Frost was interviewed on GB News, where he claimed that the world “was not in a climate emergency”.
“In my view we’re not in a climate emergency or a climate crisis in the very hysterical way that some people like to suggest,” he said.
“[But] we do have a problem and the way to adapt to that problem is through adaptation and through being serious about the kind of energy supplies that we’re trying to develop.
“My worry at the moment is that we’re rushing at it, we’re trying to do too much too quickly, the technologies aren’t available and we’re running into problems.”
The think tank has been criticised for promoting climate scepticism and receiving donations from a foundation with millions of dollars-worth of shares in fossil fuel companies via its non-charitable arm Net Zero Watch.
It has led to a cross-party group of MPs calling for the foundation to be stripped of its charitable status.
In statement Lord Frost said: “For too long the costs of net zero policies have not been given adequate attention by policy makers or the media.
“There is far too much wishful thinking about pressing ahead with decarbonisation as quickly as possible, and too much demonisation of those who are asking legitimate questions.
“I am delighted to become a trustee of the GWPF, which has done so much to highlight the pitfalls of poorly-thought through climate and energy policies.
“The terrible crisis in Ukraine has shown the vital need for energy security and a more cost-effective approach to climate policies.”
Responding to the news of Lord Frost’s new job role, Scottish Greens MSP Gillian Mackay told The National: "Lord Frost has already done more than enough damage, having been a senior minister in a cruel and incompetent Tory government and having personally negotiated a disastrous Brexit deal that has cut jobs and hammered businesses across Scotland and beyond.
"The fact that he's promoting anti-climate policies comes as little surprise when the climate-wrecking government that appointed him to the Lords is in the process of approving new oil and gas exploration licences.
"One of the great benefits of Scottish independence is that we will finally be able to build a modern and progressive democracy, rather than constantly being ruled by life peers we didn't choose and can't get rid of."
The Global Warming Policy Foundation was founded by Nigel Lawson, a former Conservative Chancellor in Margaret Thatcher’s government.
It comes as world leaders continue discussions at the COP27 climate meeting in Egypt.
This year has seen a particular focus on loss and damage funds for countries that are set to be severely impacted by climate change.
Nicola Sturgeon has pledged a further £5 million of funding to the nations expected to be hardest hit.
