Nicholas Stern, author of the government report on climate change, is to step down as head of Britain’s economic service.

According to reports, Stern will join the London School of Economics under its Patel Professorship, which focuses on India.

His October report made headlines for his no-nonsense recommendations insisting world governments had to take action on climate change.

The Times reported today (Friday) that Stern’s departure was announced with “embarrassing timing” a day after Gordon Brown responded to the report’s proposals in his Pre-Budget Reprt with “minimum concessions”, such as raising taxes on flights and motorists fuel.