Net zero has become unhelpful slogan, says outgoing head of UK climate watchdog

Chris Stark says populist response and culture war around the term is inhibiting environmental progress

The concept of net zero" has become a political slogan used to start a dangerous" culture war over the climate, and may be better dropped, the outgoing head of the UK's climate watchdog has warned.

Chris Stark, the chief executive of the Climate Change Committee (CCC), said sensible improvements to the economy and people's lives were being blocked by a populist response to the net zero label, and he would be intensely relaxed" about losing the term.