UK wages war on greenhouse gases

Car use is a major cause of global warming

United Nation talks on global warming in The Hague are the most important since 1997's Kyoto summit, according to UK environment minister Michael Meacher.

His remarks came as he unveiled details of the UK's strategy to tackle what the minister said was "the greatest environmental challenge that we face today".

We are certainly in range of meeting our domestic goal of cutting CO2 by 20%

Michael Meacher

In an upbeat assessment of the future he also predicted that the UK was comfortably on track to meet its commitment to reduce CO2 emissions by 12.5% of 1990 levels by 2008.

Mr Meacher even predicted the total reduction could be as high as 23%.

Landmark conference

A 170 countries will be gathering in The Hague for next week's conference which will see the UK represented by both Mr Meacher and the Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.

So far the UK is one of the few developed countries to have published a clear strategy for delivering its 12.5% target under the Kyoto Protocol.

The domestic Climate Change Programme acknowledges the seriousness of the situation when it says that cuts of up to 60% to 70% globally may be necessary in the long term.

Speaking before the programme's launch Mr Meacher told the BBC: "We are setting out a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the UK by 23% below 1990 levels - that is more than 10% beyond our Kyoto target."

"We are certainly in range of meeting our domestic goal of cutting CO2 by 20%.

"We quantify the emissions that will deliver a cut of 19% and no doubt other policies which are unquantifiable, like action by local authorities, voluntary action by industry and public awareness campaigns, will give us the rest."

Alternative fuels

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme he drew attention to other plans which would help cut pollution.

"In particular, there is a green travel challenge fund, which gives an opportunity for industry to come forward with new proposals which are going to increase use of alternative fuels like liquid petroleum gas and bio-fuels."

Mr Meacher added that agreements were also in place with European car manufacturers that would save millions of tonnes of carbon emissions in the next few years.

And he dismissed remarks that the recent pre-Budget statement would encourage car use, and therefore pollution.

"The more than tripling of international oil prices continues the pressure on people to be very careful on the amount they drive," he said.

The minister also rejected charges in a report out on Friday which suggested government plans to reduce duty on ultra low sulphur fuels may create more pollution as some scientists believe they are less efficient.

Other nations lagging behind

The government's document will also outline what the public can do to cut polluting greenhouse gases.

But many industrialised countries look unlikely to reach their individual reduction targets, which will make it harder for them to persuade the developing world to commit itself to emission reductions in its turn.

Severe weather

The pressure is on to reach an agreement at The Hague with several countries now experiencing their worst weather conditions in recent memory, including the UK where heavy rainfall has resulted in the worst floods for 50 years.

Many scientists and environmental groups have argued these storms were the direct result of years of carbon dioxide emissions resulting from the burning of fossil fuels.

Mr Meacher warned earlier this year that strengthening coastal and river flood defences to withstand climate change could cost £1.2bn over the next half-century for England and Wales.

Renewable energy

Charles Secrett, director of Friends of the Earth, said he hoped the climate change strategy would send a powerful message to the climate negotiations at The Hague and provide a blueprint for other nations.

And responding to the news the opposition Conservative Party spokesman, Damian Green, criticised Labour for failing to promote renewable energy.

He said by 2010, "the German Government has a target of 100,000 solar-powered homes - but the British Government's target is just 100".