Bernie Fraser has resigned as chairman of the Climate Change Authority (CCA).

Mr Fraser – a former Reserve Bank governor - signed on for a five-year term in 2012, becoming the first person to hold the position.

It comes just a few weeks after Mr Fraser criticised the Federal Government's post 2020 emissions reduction targets.

The Federal Government announced a plan to cut emissions by 26 to 28 per cent of 2005 levels by 2030.

Mr Fraser issued a statement at the time that the CCA recommended reductions of 45 to 63 per cent by 2030.

It labelled the Government's emission reduction targets “substantially weaker” than its recommendation, saying could see the country “slip further behind the efforts being made by comparable countries”.

Environment Minister Greg Hunt has thanked Mr Fraser for an outstanding career in public service.