--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was energy and climate change…" description: "\"When I was energy and climate change secretary I sat around a cabinet table with Gove, and he couldn't help playing to the Tory climate-sceptic audienc..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/ed-davey-5794_change_when-i-was-energy-and-climate-change-sec_1831622.jpg" --- # When I was energy and climate change secretary I sat… ![“When I was energy and climate change secretary I sat around a cabinet table with Gove, and he couldn't help playing to the Tory climate-sceptic audience. As education secretary, he tried to ban climate change from the geography curriculum. After an angry exchange of letters with me, he eventually…” quote by Ed Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/ed-davey-5794_change_when-i-was-energy-and-climate-change-sec_1831622.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/ed-davey-5794_change_when-i-was-energy-and-climate-change-sec_1831622.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/ed-davey-5794_change_when-i-was-energy-and-climate-change-sec_1831622.jpg) > “When I was energy and climate change secretary I sat around a cabinet table with Gove, and he couldn't help playing to the Tory climate-sceptic audience. As education secretary, he tried to ban climate change from the geography curriculum. After an angry exchange of letters with me, he eventually backed down.” [Ed Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-davey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A former climate secretary recounts confronting a colleague who tried to downplay climate issues, showing that persistence can overturn denial. **In simple terms:** Standing up to denial can change policy. Key Takeaway Persist and challenge misinformation. Themes politics climate leadership Mood determined optimistic Type political inspirational When to use this quote - government meetings - public debates - educational curriculum decisions Key Concepts environmental policy communication conflict resolution Questions to Reflect On - How do you confront climate denial in your work? - What strategies help shift entrenched opinions? A Different Perspective Opposition may use political pressure to maintain status quo. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ban Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ban-climate-2278078/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Climate change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate-change/) [Climate Sceptic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate-sceptic-2278077/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Education Secretary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education-secretary-742080/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help/) [Letters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/letters/) [Playing Tory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-tory-2278076/) [Tory Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tory-climate-2278075/) ## Related quotes > [“The nation would have been puzzled by some of the cultural treasures meant to be preserved during a nuclear attack: When the Pentagon was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-m-graff/the-nation-would-have-been-puzzled-by-some-of-the-cultural-treasures/) [Garrett M. Graff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-m-graff/) > [I have a unique ambition for a politician. I am the first aspiring education secretary to want less power not more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-green/i-have-a-unique-ambition-for-a-politician-i-am-the-first-aspiring/) [Damian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-green/) > [Whoever becomes Education Secretary has to have a love and passion for public schools. Not charter schools, not vouchers, but public schools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaal-bowman/whoever-becomes-education-secretary-has-to-have-a-love-and-passion/) [Jamaal Bowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaal-bowman/) > [As our children fall further behind, we need an Education Secretary who is on the side of students and parents, not teachers' unions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hagerty/as-our-children-fall-further-behind-we-need-an-education-secretary/) [Bill Hagerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hagerty/) > [As Education Secretary, I pay attention when experts give me advice - I'd get into hot water very quickly if I didn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-williamson/as-education-secretary-i-pay-attention-when-experts-give-me-advice-i/) [Gavin Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-williamson/) > [The reason I love my job as education secretary is that it's all about the future. Everything I and my department do is about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-morgan/the-reason-i-love-my-job-as-education-secretary-is-that-it-s-all/) [Nicky Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-morgan/) > [Astonishingly, I am only the second Education Secretary to have gone to a comprehensive but I can tell you, it doesn't matter what kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-williamson/astonishingly-i-am-only-the-second-education-secretary-to-have-gone/) [Gavin Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-williamson/) > [When I fought the Tories over climate change and won, more than trebling renewable power with a new subsidy policy combining state intervention with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-davey/when-i-fought-the-tories-over-climate-change-and-won-more-than/) [Ed Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-davey/) > [On climate change, Britain is leading in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-davey/on-climate-change-britain-is-leading-in-europe/) [Ed Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-davey/) > [I am sympathetic to developing countries’ concerns: because of our emissions it’s their crops that will disappear; because of our inaction, it’s their fields…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-am-sympathetic-to-developing-countries-concerns-because-of-our/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [Climate change poses clear, catastrophic threats. We may not agree on the extent, but we certainly can't afford the risk of inaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/climate-change-poses-clear-catastrophic-threats-we-may-not-agree-on/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [I talk to fashion designers and say I want some money to save the rainforest, and they say, 'Oh, I agree with you completely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivienne-westwood/i-talk-to-fashion-designers-and-say-i-want-some-money-to-save-the/) [Vivienne Westwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivienne-westwood/) > [There are many more traits that the climate deniers share with the creationists and Holocaust deniers and others who distort the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-r-prothero/there-are-many-more-traits-that-the-climate-deniers-share-with-the/) [Donald R. Prothero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-r-prothero/) > [My friends, this body - perhaps more than any other gathering in human history - now faces that difficult task.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/my-friends-this-body-perhaps-more-than-any-other-gathering-in-human/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) ## More by Ed Davey > [No-deal Brexit could be Boris Johnson's biggest deception yet - worse than the Boris bus or the lies that had him sacked as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-davey/no-deal-brexit-could-be-boris-johnson-s-biggest-deception-yet-worse/) [Ed Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-davey/) > [When I fought the Tories over climate change and won, more than trebling renewable power with a new subsidy policy combining state intervention with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-davey/when-i-fought-the-tories-over-climate-change-and-won-more-than/) [Ed Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-davey/) > [I'm proud to have led the brokering of the ambitious 2030 climate package in the European Union to cut greenhouse gases by at least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-davey/i-m-proud-to-have-led-the-brokering-of-the-ambitious-2030-climate/) [Ed Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-davey/) > [We now have the economics confirming that not only is climate action required to reduce climate risks, but that it is vital to building…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-davey/we-now-have-the-economics-confirming-that-not-only-is-climate-action/) [Ed Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-davey/) > [Britain's energy markets were a mess in 2010.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-davey/britain-s-energy-markets-were-a-mess-in-2010/) [Ed Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-davey/) > [We must face up to the long-term failures of Britain's approach to immigration and make the argument for an effective, compassionate and liberal alternative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-davey/we-must-face-up-to-the-long-term-failures-of-britain-s-approach-to/) [Ed Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-davey/) > [I am not going to give up on renewable energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-davey/i-am-not-going-to-give-up-on-renewable-energy/) [Ed Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-davey/) > [There is no good time to break the law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-davey/there-is-no-good-time-to-break-the-law/) [Ed Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-davey/) > [Not having a roof over your head at night must be frightening, cold, lonely and depressing. To be seriously ill as well must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-davey/not-having-a-roof-over-your-head-at-night-must-be-frightening-cold/) [Ed Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-davey/) > [The Liberal Democrats are proud pro-Europeans, and internationalists - and always will be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-davey/the-liberal-democrats-are-proud-pro-europeans-and-internationalists/) [Ed Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-davey/) > [The union that is the United Kingdom has been extraordinarily successful. Our British family has cooperated brilliantly, working together with shared goals and values,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-davey/the-union-that-is-the-united-kingdom-has-been-extraordinarily/) [Ed Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-davey/) > [Diplomacy is essential if we are to find peaceful resolutions in times of tension.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-davey/diplomacy-is-essential-if-we-are-to-find-peaceful-resolutions-in/) [Ed Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-davey/) > [I've been a young carer, an adult carer and a parent carer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-davey/i-ve-been-a-young-carer-an-adult-carer-and-a-parent-carer/) [Ed Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-davey/) > [On climate change, Britain is leading in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-davey/on-climate-change-britain-is-leading-in-europe/) [Ed Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-davey/) > [By leading on a strong emissions reduction target, the U.K. is persuading others on the need for member states to have the freedom and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-davey/by-leading-on-a-strong-emissions-reduction-target-the-u-k-is/) [Ed Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-davey/) [Explore all 100 Ed Davey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-davey/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) [Phil Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hogan/) > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I was energy and climate change secretary I sat around a cabinet table with Gove, and he couldn't help playing to the Tory climate-sceptic audience. As education secretary, he tried to ban climate change from the geography curriculum. After an angry exchange of letters with me, he eventually backed down.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ed Davey" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-davey/when-i-was-energy-and-climate-change-secretary-i-sat-around-a-cabinet/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Change" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-davey/when-i-was-energy-and-climate-change-secretary-i-sat-around-a-cabinet/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/ed-davey-5794_change_when-i-was-energy-and-climate-change-sec_1831622.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/ed-davey-5794_change_when-i-was-energy-and-climate-change-sec_1831622.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/ed-davey-5794_change_when-i-was-energy-and-climate-change-sec_1831622.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I was energy and climate change secretary I sat around a cabinet table with Gove, and he couldn't help…” — Ed Davey", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ed Davey", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-davey/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I was energy and climate...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-davey/when-i-was-energy-and-climate-change-secretary-i-sat-around-a-cabinet/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-davey/when-i-was-energy-and-climate-change-secretary-i-sat-around-a-cabinet/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```