Chris Huhne has spent the last ten years concerned with energy and climate change policy as adviser, minister, shadow minister, and negotiator at national and international level. Chris has an in-depth knowledge of international, european and national political institutions.

Prior to politics, Chris had a successful track record in business and economics. He was also an award-winning writer and public speaker.

  • Strategic adviser, Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association 2014-
  • Senior Adviser, Engaged Tracking Feb 2018-
  • Chairman, Europe, Zilkha Biomass 2013-

2005 to 2017

  • Co-chair, ET Index Research Ltd, 2015-2017 (now Engaged Tracking).
  • Adviser, British Photovoltaic Association, 2014-5
  • Adviser, Nationwide Energy Services 2013
  • Columnist, Guardian 2013-14
  • Occasional lecturer and speaker for inter alia University of Cambridge Masters in Public Policy
  • Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change putting in place the first energy-saving act (setting up the Green Deal) and deciding low-carbon electricity market reform 2010-2
  • Led the UK delegation to the Cancun 2011 and Durban 2012 conferences working for a global agreement on climate change.
  • Responsible for “Zero Carbon Britain”, first UK party plan to decarbonise economy.
  • One of 4-man Liberal Democrat team negotiating the UK Coalition government programme in 2010
  • Member of the UK Parliament 2005-2013 holding front bench positions for the Liberal Democrats dealing with the Treasury, Environment and the Home Office.

1999 to 2005

  • Member of the European Parliament and Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee
  • Liberal group’s spokesman on economics and finance, dealing with financial regulation (Financial Markets Action Plan) such as the prospectus directive.
  • Introduced sunset clauses for the first time into European law.

1994 to 1999

  • Founded the first European group of economists rating sovereign borrowers, ending as group managing director of Fitch, one of the three big rating agencies.
  • Led the economic teams that first rated central and eastern European transition economies coming to the capital markets after the fall of the Berlin Wall (eg Russia, Poland, Ukraine).
  • Reported and analysed the 1997 Asian financial crisis in South Korea, Indonesia, Thailand.

1976 to 1994

  • Business editor on the Independent and Independent on Sunday.
  • Wrote four books, mainly on international debt, development and European economics, and numerous articles in policy journals (selective list attached).
  • Two Wincott awards as financial journalist of the year.
  • Economics commentator and columnist on the Guardian 1980 to 1990
  • Brussels correspondent of The Economist 1977 to 1980
  • Undercover journalist during Mrs Gandhi’s emergency in India when others were expelled.

Qualifications and Awards

  • First class degree in politics, philosophy and economics at Oxford University. Certificat at the Sorbonne-Paris (French speaker).
  • Visiting Fellow of Nuffield College, Oxford University 2008-2012.
  • Council member of the Royal Economic Society 1993-8.
  • Council member, Consumers’ Association 2002-2004.