On 30^th May 2012 Barry took part in an event organised by HRH The Prince of Wales discussing the development of global accounting standards for a sustainable green economy ahead of the United Nations Rio+20 conference – the most important global environmental and sustainable development conference in twenty years.

Barry highlighted the need for serious discussion and intelligent policy making with respect to establishing the United Kingdom as a leading global example of how to account for green economic initiatives.

For more information about HRH The Prince of Wales' Accounting for Sustainability Project please click here.

On 23^rd May 2012 Barry hosted the Westminster Forum's seminar addressing the issues of food security and global farming with a view to sustainable food sources to feed a growing world population. The event, which took place at the Royal Society, featured a number of leading experts in the field of food policy and sustainable development and considered the key issues of how to tackle global hunger, how science and technology will impact the supply of food and rising food costs and how policy should be shaped to meet these challenges.

On 22^nd May 2012 Barry opened the National Energy Management Exhibition at the Sustainability Live event at the NEC Birmingham in his capacity as Leader of the Opposition's Special Envoy for Climate Change and the Environment.

Barry addressed the conference discussing how renewable energy sources factor into Electricity Market Reform.

The Sustainability Live event is one of Europe's leading conferences bringing together experts and organisations with an interest in developing a sustainable, environmentally friendly economy.

On 10^th May 2012 Barry joined a panel of experts in Parliament for the launch of the Ecosystem Marketplace Special Report: 'Bringing it Home: Taking Stock of Government Engagement with the Voluntary Carbon Market' and to discuss voluntary carbon markets in which companies and private organisations may trade credits to offset their greenhouse gas emissions (meaning that they pay for what they emit).

In April 2011 Mr. Gardiner was appointed as the Special Envoy on Climate Change and the Environment to the Leader of the Opposition, the Rt. Hon. Ed Miliband MP.

In this capacity he works with other senior legislators around the world to provide innovative thinking on the current debates within the UNFCCC, UNCBD, UNEP, GEF and other environmental bodies.

Reporting directly to Ed Miliband, Mr. Gardiner provides regular assessments of the national priorities and positions of other countries on environmental issues. He suggests areas for further development and policy cooperation in order to achieve international consensus around issues of climate change, natural wealth accounting, desertification, biodiversity and sustainable development.

Read the Press release from the Leader of the Opposition, Ed Miliband.

In November 2010 Mr Gardiner was appointed to the House of Commons' Energy and Climate Change Select Committee where he has played a leading role scrutinising government energy and climate change policy.

Mr Gardiner has made a vital contribution to the Committee's work in a wide range of areas, including: the government's proposals to reform the electricity market; energy security; marine renewable energy; and the future of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.

Mr Gardiner has quickly established a reputation as a highly influential member of the Committee. Recently, as part of an inquiry into Ofgem's Retail Market Review, Mr Gardiner challenged the Big Six energy companies to end the practice of doorstop selling. This was shortly followed by an announcement that Scottish and Southern Energy, British Gas/Centrica and EDF Energy would end the discredited practice of doorstep selling. 

In addition to his role on the Energy and Climate Change Select Committee, Mr Gardiner is also a member of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee. Mr Gardiner was appointed to the Committee in December 2010.

As a former Minister at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Mr Gardiner brings to the Committee extensive experience and expertise in environmental policy. He has played a leading role in the work of the Committee, including its recent inquiries into reform of the Common Fisheries Policy; the future of the EU dairy industry and Farming Regulation.

The Chair of Committee, Anne McIntosh MP, recently acknowledged Mr Gardiner's experience and the valuable contribution he makes to the Committee when she said that he would be able to "guide [Members] through the inquiry" into the Natural Environment White Paper.