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.”

She added that the Tory decision was at odds with a worldwide move towards investment in renewable energy and withdrawal of subsidies and tax breaks for fossil fuels.

Green Party leader Natalie Bennett called for immediate action on climate change in response to the concerns.

Ms Bennett warned that it is “now or never when it comes to us hitting our climate change targets” and urged David Cameron to “listen to the international experts.”

She said it was time for David Cameron to show he was “serious” about tackling climate change.

It would be “ridiculous” if the British delegation to the UN climate change conference were to head there “having continued to cut renewables subsidies and planning for a new airport runway in London,” Ms Bennett warned.

But Campaign for Public Ownership director Neil Clark warned that as long as energy was in the hands of transnational companies the “profit motive will always be at the top of the agenda” with any attempts to tackle climate change becoming a secondary issue.

He told the Star that the best way of pursuing the green agenda was to take the energy companies into public ownership so they can be run in a “socially responsible way” rather than for private profit.

A Department of Energy and Climate Change spokesman said: “We are absolutely committed to getting a global deal in Paris, which will create a level playing field for businesses, driving innovation and growing the low carbon economy.”