European Commission President José Manuel Barroso announced his new team of Commissioners last Friday, who will be taking up their positions in the new year provided Parliament agrees to the choices. Danish climate and energy Minister Connie Hedegaard has been given the new role of Commissioner of the department dedicated to climate action, whilst Janez Potočnik will replace Stavros Dimas as environment Commissioner.

The decision to create the new position and directorate general (DG) for climate change will have the effect of substantially reducing the scope of the environment DG. The fledgling climate department will be tasked with international climate strategy, the EU’s ETS (Emission Trading Scheme), industrial emissions, ozone protection and the integrated pollution prevention and control directive. Environment meanwhile will deal with such issues as soil protection and water and air policy after it also lost its biotechnology, pesticides and health unit to the health department.

German Günter Oettinger will be heading up the energy department  taking over from Andris Piebalgs, whilst Siim Kallas will replace Antonio Tajani as transport Commissioner. Energy and transport will be split into two separate departments, Mr Barroso confirmed.

Following Mr Barroso’s announcement, the European Parliament announced it would be holding hearings on the new Commissioners between 11-19 January, with MEPs voting on the composition during a plenary session on 26 January. The Commissioners would then take up their new posts in February.

MEPs including GLOBE EU members have recently written a letter to President Barroso, making the case for finding a distribution of portfolios that adequately reflects the inextricable relation between environment and climate policy.