Government appoints a new Chair and re-appoints 3 current members to the Climate Change Advisory Council (CCAC)
- Published on: 24 March 2026
- Last updated on: 24 March 2026
The government has appointed a new Chair and has re-appointed 3 current members to the Climate Change Advisory Council (CCAC). The members will assist the Council in its activities, including advising Ministers and government on climate policy, conducting annual and periodic reviews of progress in furthering the achievement of reducing emissions as well as proposing carbon budgets to the Minister.
The new Chair – Mr Alex White – has been appointed the new Chair of the Climate Change Advisory Council for a 5-year term, with effect from 24 March 2026.
The 3 Ordinary Members to be re-appointed are:
- Prof Peter Thorne, with expertise in climate science, has been re-appointed for a period of 5 years with effect from 24 March 2026
- Dr Cara Augustenborg, with expertise in agricultural policy, has been re-appointed for a period of 5 years with effect from 12 October 2026
- Jillian Mahon, with expertise in Finance, has been re-appointed for a period of five years with effect from 12 October 2026
Commenting on the appointments, the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, Darragh O'Brien, said:
"At the outset, I would like to express my thanks to the outgoing Chair Ms Marie Donnelly for her contribution and commitment to the Council.
"I wish to welcome the new Chair of the Council, Mr Alex White. Mr White will bring a breadth of relevant expertise and experience to the role of Chair across the legal, energy, communications, political and stakeholder fields.
"It was also, important to ensure business continuity and to address the large turnover of the Council. As such, I also, wish to express my gratitude to the 3 current members being re-appointed for a second term. Each of these Ordinary Members have contributed substantially to the work of the Council in their current term bringing their unique experience and expertise which I have no doubt will continue to enrich the Council's skillset and play a key role in our ability to decarbonise our economy."
Minister O'Brien added:
"There remain 4 vacancies on the Council to be filled, and it is my intention to bring a further Memorandum to Government shortly with recommendation to fill all current and upcoming vacancies in 2026."
ENDS
Notes to the Editor
The Climate Change Advisory Council
Section 8 of the Climate and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 established the Climate Change Advisory Council on a statutory basis on 18 January 2016.
The appointments take into account:
- Statutory requirements of the relevant Act (that appointees shall have a broad range of expertise and competences required to carry out the council's functions)
- Provisions in the relevant Act to ensure gender balance and continuity of council membership (staggered terms of 3 to 5 years)
Alex White
Alex White is a Senior Counsel and Accredited Mediator. He is the Director General of the Institute of International and European Affairs. He is a member of the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board and of the Board of Trinity College Dublin.
He was the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources during 2014 to 2016 and Minister of State at the Department of Health during 2012 to 2014. He has been a TD (Oireachtas Committee chair 2011-2012), a Senator (group leader), and a member of two local authorities.
Prior to commencing legal practice in 1994, he was a radio producer with RTÉ. He is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin (Economic and Social Studies) and of the King's Inns.