THE United Nations’ top environmental scientist criticised the Tories yesterday for their “disappointing” decision to cut support for renewable energies before next month’s UN climate change conference.

UN environment programme chief scientist Professor Jacqueline McGlade said cuts to support for clean onshore windfarms and solar power sent out a “perverse signal” to other countries on the need to cut reliance on fossil fuels and invest in renewable energy.

Prof McGlade said it was “disappointing” that the British government was cutting renewable energy and enhancing the fossil fuel industry when it had previously “been in the lead in terms of getting its renewable energy up and going.”