Dieter Helm

Professor Sir Dieter Helm is an economist specialising in energy, climate change, utilities, infrastructure and natural capital, recognised for translating complex environmental policy into practical economic solutions. As Professor of Economic Policy at the University of Oxford and Fellow in Economics at New College, Oxford, he served as Independent Chair of the Natural Capital Committee from 2012 to 2020 and received a knighthood in 2021 for services to the environment, energy and utilities policy. His recent publications include Climate Realism: Facing the Facts about Energy and Net Zero: How We Stop Causing Climate Change, alongside his forthcoming work The Sustainable Economy. Dieter equips organisations and policymakers with evidence-based frameworks that challenge conventional thinking on decarbonisation, helping audiences understand the real costs of climate action and develop strategies grounded in economic realism rather than aspiration alone.

When Dieter Helm advised the European Commission on its Energy Roadmap 2050, serving simultaneously as special advisor to the European Commissioner for Energy and Chairman of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group, he established a reputation for challenging policy orthodoxies with economic rigour. Knighted in 2021 for services to the environment, energy and utilities policy, he holds the position of Professor of Economic Policy at the University of Oxford and Fellow in Economics at New College, Oxford. From 2012 to 2020, he chaired the Natural Capital Committee, providing independent advice to government on the sustainable use of natural capital, whilst his recent publications include Net Zero: How We Stop Causing Climate Change and his latest work, Climate Realism: Facing the Facts about Energy, published by Cambridge University Press. He is currently writing The Sustainable Economy, extending his analysis of how economic frameworks must evolve to address environmental imperatives.

His credibility stems from decades of applied policy work across Britain and Europe, advising governments on the practical economics of decarbonisation, infrastructure investment and regulatory reform. As Director of Aurora Energy Research, a leading energy modelling company, and Associate Editor of the Oxford Review of Economic Policy, he maintains direct engagement with the data and forecasting that underpin energy transitions. His 2017 Cost of Energy Review for the UK government demonstrated his capacity to translate complex economic analysis into actionable policy recommendations. Beyond academic research, he serves as Honorary Vice President of the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust, connecting theoretical frameworks with conservation practice. His podcast series and regular commentary address current policy debates, from water nationalisation to industrial energy crises, ensuring his expertise remains responsive to evolving political and economic realities.

Dieter equips audiences with the analytical tools to distinguish between aspirational climate commitments and measurable progress, challenging the assumption that current approaches will deliver stated goals. He demonstrates why global energy demand continues to rise, why fossil fuels still represent 85 per cent of the energy mix, and why atmospheric carbon concentrations keep increasing despite decades of international agreements. Organisations gain clarity on the real costs of energy transitions, the infrastructure investments required, and the regulatory reforms necessary to achieve sustainable outcomes. His presentations move beyond political rhetoric to examine what economic realism demands of policymakers, businesses and investors. Audiences leave with a clearer understanding of where decarbonisation strategies succeed, where they fail, and how to develop approaches grounded in evidence rather than optimism alone, enabling more effective decision-making in an era of profound environmental and economic change.