The head of Britain's top climate change body, Chris Stark, resigned from his post on Thursday, the PA news agency reported.
Stark, who took over as chair of the Independent Committee on Climate Change in 2018, criticized Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's environmental policies, saying they conflicted with the UK's commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
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The head of Britain's top climate change body, Chris Stark, resigned from his post on Thursday, the PA news agency reported.
Stark, who took over as chair of the Independent Committee on Climate Change in 2018, criticized Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's environmental policies, saying they conflicted with the UK's commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
“It has been an honor to lead the Climate Change Committee during this important period,” he said in a statement, without specifying the reason for his resignation.
In September, Stark cast doubt on Britain's ability to cut emissions after Sunak decided to delay and cancel several measures, including postponing a plan to ban the sale of combustion vehicles for five years.
Environmentalists and zero-emissions campaigners, including within Sunak's party, have strongly criticized the move.
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Stark's resignation comes after Conservative MP and former Energy Minister Chris Skidmore announced his resignation last week due to his opposition to the development of oil and gas fields in the North Sea.
In 2019, the UK became the first major economy to adopt a goal of reducing fossil fuel emissions to net zero by 2050.
Under Stark, the commission recommended making all cars and vans electric by 2035, and quadrupling low-carbon electricity production.
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Stark's last day in office will be April 26. Economist James Richardson will later take over his duties on an interim basis, according to the PA.
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