The recent appointment of Rachel Kyte as the UK’s special representative on climate has sparked significant debate, particularly regarding her ongoing role with the Quadrature Climate Foundation (QCF), a charity linked to investments in fossil fuels.
Kyte, a former World Bank climate chief, will retain her position on QCF’s climate advisory board, despite its founders, Greg Skinner and Suneil Setiya, making a multimillion-pound donation of £4 million to the Labour Party earlier this year.
Joy Morrissey, the shadow energy minister, has raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest stemming from this donation and whether it influenced Kyte’s appointment.
While some environmental leaders support Kyte, citing her extensive background in climate policy, the intertwining of charity and political contributions raises questions about impartiality in her new role.
Concerns arise as the new climate envoy maintains a role with charity linked to political donations.Kyte, who will work under the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO), aims to enhance climate finance mobilization—an ongoing challenge in international climate negotiations.
Christiana Figueres, a former UN climate chief, emphasized Kyte’s qualifications for the position, noting her commitment to providing universal access to clean energy.
In response to the controversy, the FCDO confirmed that Kyte’s appointment underwent comprehensive due diligence and that her external engagements would be monitored to prevent conflicts.
Jess Ayers, chief executive of QCF, clarified that the foundation operates independently from Quadrature Capital and is politically neutral, focusing on funding science-led solutions to climate change.
As Kyte steps into this pivotal role, the UK government will rely on her expertise to navigate the complexities of global climate diplomacy, especially in light of the upcoming COP29 summit.
Her leadership will be critical in forging alliances to combat the climate crisis, even as scrutiny continues over her connections to the Quadrature Foundation.