Prime Minister Andy Burnham is facing pressure to dismiss his climate tsar, Rachel Kyte, following revelations that she has accumulated 250,000 miles in official air travel in less than two years. The extensive travel, which includes business-class flights to international destinations such as Rio de Janeiro, Seoul, and Colombia, has incurred a cost of approximately £107,000 for taxpayers, not including accommodation expenses.

Conservative MP Greg Smith criticized Kyte's travel, stating it is "a slap in the face to taxpayers" and "outrageous." He called for her resignation or dismissal by Burnham, suggesting the role itself should be abolished. This criticism comes despite Kyte's previous acknowledgment of the environmental impact of air travel, having expressed discomfort in a 2021 interview about her own carbon footprint.

Records indicate that Kyte, the UK's Special Representative for Climate, has undertaken numerous long-haul flights for official engagements. These include a 10,000-mile round trip to Colombia for the 'Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels' conference in April, and a prior trip to Brazzaville in the Republic of Congo. This year alone, her travel costs have exceeded £31,000, comprising over 20 flights, predominantly in business class.

The flights have also generated an estimated 100 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, which is approximately ten times the average annual emissions for an individual. According to climate-protection organization myclimate.org, this amount of CO2 is equivalent to the emissions generated by driving a Range Rover for 27 years.

The role of Special Representative for Climate, which pays £130,000 annually, was reinstated by the Labour party after being abolished by the Conservatives in 2023. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) defended the expenses, describing them as "cost-effective" and "in the interests of taxpayers," asserting that "We make no apology for pursuing international climate action."

Kyte was previously scrutinized in June of the previous year for accumulating 75,000 air miles since assuming her post in September 2024.