Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
How do we build a clean energy system while bringing UK bills down? Can the UK’s landmark Climate Change Act stand up to a fractured climate politics? And does increasing global instability make home-grown energy more important than ever?
This week’s episode of Cleaning Up comes to you from inside of the UK’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, where last week Bryony Worthington sat down with Katie White MP, the UK’s recently appointed Climate Minister, to discuss her new role, what she’s excited about, and current challenges that she’s facing.
Katie and Bryony met more than 20 years ago when they worked together at Friends of the Earth on the campaign for the Climate Change Act. In her new role, Katie is now the minister responsible for carbon budgets and net zero, alongside other climate priorities. It was only 12 months after she was elected as an MP for Leeds North West that Katie was promoted Climate Minister, in what she’s described as her dream job.
From their shared history campaigning for the Climate Change Act to today’s challenges of energy affordability, electrification and public consent, Katie and Bryony unpack what’s working, what isn’t, and how to connect climate action to lower bills, stronger security and a better quality of life.
Leadership Circle:
Cleaning Up is supported by the Leadership Circle, and its founding members: Actis, Alcazar Energy, Cygnum Capital, Davidson Kempner, EcoPragma Capital, EDP, Eurelectric, the Gilardini Foundation, KKR, National Grid, Octopus Energy, Quadrature Climate Foundation, SDCL and Wärtsilä. For more information on the Leadership Circle, please visit https://www.cleaningup.live.
Discover more:
• Katie White biography and brief: gov.uk/government/people/katie-white
• Katie White’s constituency website: katiewhitemp.org.uk
Chapters:
00:00 - Coming Up
01:00 - Introduction
04:30 - Climate Change Act
08:00 - Fractured Consensus
10:45 - Why Are Prices High?
15:30 - Electrification Strategy
20:00 - Electric Cars
23:00 - Methane & Agriculture
27:45 - Meeting Chris Wright
30:30 - Nuclear
33:30 - Was COP Useful?
38:00 - Is The Bar Too Low?
42:27 - Resilience & Innovation
46:00 - Transitioning North Sea
49:30 - Next 100 Days
53:00 - Climate A Winning Issue
55:52 - Outro
How do we build a clean energy system while bringing UK bills down? Can the UK’s landmark Climate Change Act stand up to a fractured climate politics? And does increasing global instability make home-grown energy more important than ever?
This week’s episode of Cleaning Up comes to you from inside of the UK’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, where last week Bryony Worthington sat down with Katie White MP, the UK’s recently appointed Climate Minister, to discuss her new role, what she’s excited about, and current challenges that she’s facing.
Katie and Bryony met more than 20 years ago when they worked together at Friends of the Earth on the campaign for the Climate Change Act. In her new role, Katie is now the minister responsible for carbon budgets and net zero, alongside other climate priorities. It was only 12 months after she was elected as an MP for Leeds North West that Katie was promoted Climate Minister, in what she’s described as her dream job.
From their shared history campaigning for the Climate Change Act to today’s challenges of energy affordability, electrification and public consent, Katie and Bryony unpack what’s working, what isn’t, and how to connect climate action to lower bills, stronger security and a better quality of life.
Leadership Circle:
Cleaning Up is supported by the Leadership Circle, and its founding members: Actis, Alcazar Energy, Cygnum Capital, Davidson Kempner, EcoPragma Capital, EDP, Eurelectric, the Gilardini Foundation, KKR, National Grid, Octopus Energy, Quadrature Climate Foundation, SDCL and Wärtsilä. For more information on the Leadership Circle, please visit https://www.cleaningup.live.
Discover more:
• Katie White biography and brief: gov.uk/government/people/katie-white
• Katie White’s constituency website: katiewhitemp.org.uk
Chapters:
00:00 - Coming Up
01:00 - Introduction
04:30 - Climate Change Act
08:00 - Fractured Consensus
10:45 - Why Are Prices High?
15:30 - Electrification Strategy
20:00 - Electric Cars
23:00 - Methane & Agriculture
27:45 - Meeting Chris Wright
30:30 - Nuclear
33:30 - Was COP Useful?
38:00 - Is The Bar Too Low?
42:27 - Resilience & Innovation
46:00 - Transitioning North Sea
49:30 - Next 100 Days
53:00 - Climate A Winning Issue
55:52 - Outro
