London (AFP) – The head of Britain’s top climate change body, Chris Stark, resigned from the role on Thursday, the PA news agency reported.
First modification: 01/11/2024 – 11:44
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Stark, who took over as head of the independent Committee on Climate Change in 2018, has criticized Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s environmental policies, saying they contradict the UK’s commitment to achieving zero carbon emissions by 2050.
“It has been a privilege to lead the Committee on Climate Change during such an important period,” he said in a statement without specifying the reason for his resignation.
In September, Stark questioned Britain’s ability to reduce emissions after Sunak decided to postpone and scrap several measures, including postponing the plan to ban the sale of combustion vehicles for five years.
Environmentalists and net-zero emissions campaigners, including within Sunak’s party, sharply criticized the move.
Stark’s resignation comes after Conservative lawmaker and former Energy Minister Chris Skidmore announced his resignation last week over his opposition to the development of oil and gas fields in the North Sea.
In 2019, the United Kingdom became the first major economy to adopt the 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.
Stark’s last day in office will be April 26. Economist James Richardson will subsequently take over on an interim basis, according to PA.
© 2024 AFP
2024-01-11 10:47:30
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