New Minister for the Environment

The environment portfolio was transferred to a new government minister earlier today when Sigrún Magnúsdóttir, who has been an MP for the governing Progress Party since the last general elections in 2013, formally became Minister for the Environment and Natural Resources.

The Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture, Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson, previously also held the environment portfolio since the elections. It had been expected ever since the current government took power after the elections that a special minister would be appointed for the environment portfolio sooner or later.

Before becoming an MP Magnúsdóttir had held various offices mainly for the City of Reykjavík. She was a city councillor for 16 years and chairman of the City Council for sex years. After being elected as an MP she was elected as chairman of the Progress Party's parliamentary group.