Lord Turner chairs the Energy Transitions Commission, a global coalition of companies, NGOs and experts working to achieve a net zero economy by 2040.

In addition to his cross-bench role in the House of Lords, Adair Turner is also an honorary fellow of the Royal Society (the UK scientific academy dedicated to promoting science excellence for the benefit of humanity). Lord Turner regularly advises climate and government bodies – including the COP Presidency and ministers in the EU, UK, China and Australia, and is often featured in global media as an expert on the energy transition, including in the Financial Times, Economist, BBC, CNN and Bloomberg.

He holds a number of roles in industry: he is the Chairman of insurer group Chubb Europe and Chairman of UK challenger bank Oaknorth Ltd. Until October 2024, he was on the Board of AESC Japan, the manufacturers of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles. In addition, he was recently appointed adviser to Watershed Technologies Inc., and to Renew Power (India)

During his public policy career, Lord Turner chaired the UK Financial Services Authority (2008-2013), and played a lead role in the post crisis redesign of global banking and shadow banking regulation. From 2008 to 2012, he was the first chair of the UK’s Climate Change Committee, an independent body charged with defining the UK’s path to a zero carbon economy. Between 2002 and 2006, he chaired the UK Pensions Commission and recommended the creation of a system of defined contribution pensions which included an ‘opt-out’ element and has proved transformative. He also chaired the Low Pay Commission (2002-2006), and was Director General of the Confederation of British Industry (1995-2000).

He was appointed to the House of Lords in 2005.