Governance and Decision-making on Mega-Projects

Prof Benjamin Sovacool, Dr Marie-Claire Brisbois, Dr Sarah Higginson

The National Audit Office report (2025) recommended that:

• HM Treasury and NISTA should develop how they categorise major projects according to their risk and strategic importance.
• HM Treasury and NISTA should consider using alternative governance approaches for the projects they determine are mega-projects to ensure those who have the authority to make decisions are accountable for the impact of those decisions on the project.
• Any alternative governance approach should also ensure that:
• roles and responsibilities are clear across those charged with governance and those involved with decision-making
• the roles and responsibilities of those who are part of the broader government decision-making landscape, such as HM Treasury, cross-government or departmental programme boards, mission and leads, and NISTA, are clear and understood
• HM Treasury and NISTA should strengthen the project gateway and business case approval processes to ensure that government has assurance about the affordability, value for money and feasibility of the project before it is given final approval to proceed

Our submission takes these recommendations as the context within which to reflect on the governance of a fair, fast and flexible energy transition, which is part of the vision of EDRC as a key element to addressing the challenges of climate change.