Read Zac Goldsmith’s resignation letter in full as he attacks Tory election hopes

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Environment minister Zac Goldsmith has quit as a minister, blaming Rishi Sunak’s “apathy” toward climate change and warning lack of action will hurt Tory votes at the next general election. open image in gallery Former environment minister Zac Goldsmith And even if in the highly polarised political environment here in the UK there is an unwillingness to acknowledge it, that leadership has been recognised and appreciated by civil society and governments around the world. open image in gallery Zac Goldsmith was handed a peerage by Boris Johnson We have created world class funding programmes like our new Biodiverse landscapes fund, which is creating vast wildlife corridors between countries, providing safe passage for wildlife and jobs for people living in and around the corridors; and our new Blue Planet fund, which is supporting marine protection, coral and mangrove restoration, and efforts to stop plastic pollution and illegal fishing. Only last week you seemingly chose to attend the party of a media baron rather than attend a critically important environment summit in Paris Lord Goldsmith Only last week you seemingly chose to attend the party of a media baron rather than attend a critically important environment summit in Paris that ordinarily the UK would have co-led.