Chris Stark

A head and shoulders photo of Chris StarkChris Stark is Chief Executive of the Carbon Trust, a global non-profit climate consultancy.

Chris leads the Carbon Trust, a global non-profit based in London, offering advice to governments and businesses on steps to accelerate decarbonisation of the global economy. He is a specialist in the energy transition to net-zero emissions and a regular commentator and public speaker.

Prior to this he was the UK’s Chief Climate Adviser, as the head of the UK Climate Change Committee (CCC) between 2018 and 2024. At the CCC, Chris led analysis that led to the world’s first statutory Net Zero targets for the UK and Scotland - and the development of pathways and key policies to deliver it.

Under Chris’s leadership, the CCC also took a prominent role in assessing government progress. He has also played a critical role in raising efforts to adapt the country to the changing climate.

Chris was previously Director of Energy and Climate Change at the Scottish Government leading the development of Scotland’s approach to emissions reduction and the accompanying energy system transition. He has also worked in central roles in HM Treasury and across Whitehall.

"I’m honoured to join the new Centre for Public Policy to explore the challenges of addressing climate change and the implications of the net-zero transition, and helping to reflect on the global climate goals and on the emerging fractures in the politics of climate."

Chris is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. He is an alumnus of the University of Glasgow, having graduated in 2002 with a degree in Finance and Law.