The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) has appointed a new member to strengthen its business expertise.

Dr. Rebecca Heaton, who will also remain in her existing position as the Head of Sustainability and Policy at Drax in Yorkshire, has been appointed for a five-year term.

She said: “I am delighted to have the opportunity to contribute to the vitally important work of the CCC.

“I’m particularly looking forward to supporting the development of pragmatic approaches that enable businesses to deliver on the UK’s climate change agenda.”

Environmental groups have condemned the appointment of a senior representative at what they claim is the world’s biggest wood-fired power station and the UK’s biggest coal-fired plant and carbon emitter.

They warn it will seriously undermine the statutory body’s credibility, which was set up to provide independent advice to the UK Government about reducing carbon emissions.

Doug Parr, Policy Director at Greenpeace UK, said: “It’s surprising that the first business appointment to the CCC should come from a sector as controversial as biomass and fossil fuel.

“The CCC will have to work hard to ensure they are beyond reproach in transparently examining future technological scenarios, especially on bio-energy and decentralisation, to maximise benefits for the environment and the climate.”