French environmnet minister announces resignation

PARIS - French Environment Minister Nicolas Hulot announced his resignation on Tuesday, citing "accumulation of disappointments" over the government's policy to tackle climate change and address environmental problems.

"I do not want to give the illusion that my presence in government means that we are up to the challenge, and therefore I made the decision to leave the government today," Hulot told France Inter radio.

Hulot added that he had not yet informed President Emmanuel Macron or Prime Minister Edouard Philippe of his decision to resign, saying "if I had warned ... (them) of my resignation, they would perhaps have dissuaded me."

Hulot, who was a TV presenter and green activist, refused calls to join previous governments before he joined Macron's cabinet.

Shortly after his announcement, government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux said he "regretted" Hulot's decision.

"I don't understand why he is stepping down when we had many successes in the first year that are to his credit. He didn't win all his battles but that's the way it goes for ministers," Griveaux told news channel BFMTV.

"It is sometimes necessary to know how to make agreements and to say to oneself that the small step that one realized today will allow for bigger ones tomorrow," he added.