The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) was created in October 2008, to bring together:

• energy policy (previously with the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills), and
• climate change mitigation policy (previously with DEFRA)

The new Department reflects the fact that climate change and energy policies are inextricably linked - two thirds of our emissions come from the energy used. Decisions in one field cannot be made without considering the impacts in the other.

The Department's three overall objectives are to:

• ensure our energy is secure, affordable and efficient
• bring about the transition to a low-carbon Britain
• achieve an international agreement on climate change

The Department is led by the Secretary of State of Energy and Climate Change and two Ministers of State, one of whom is jointly held with DEFRA, and a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State. A Chief Scientific Adviser who reports to the Secretary of State is a member of the DECC Management Board.