The government is to announce a package of tough new measures aimed at cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

Michael Meacher: "No question of our plans being blocked"

Speaking shortly before the unveiling of the proposals, Mr Meacher also denied reports that far-reaching measures to cut pollution had been blocked by the prime minister's office.

The Department for the Environment consultation paper to be released on is the result of last December's international conference on climate in Kyoto, Japan.

The conference legally bound the government to cut harmful carbon emissions by 12.5% by 2012.

'Traffic must be cut'

Both Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott and Mr Meacher have said they hope the UK can go beyond the 12.5% goal and achieve a 20% cut in pollution - a target also promised in Labour's election manifesto.

Environmental groups predict meeting the 20% target will require a cut in traffic levels.

Liberal Democrat environment spokesman Matthew Taylor said Mr Prescott's plans for tackling traffic levels and proposals for energy taxes "appear to be being blocked by a combination of the Treasury, and what the deputy prime minister has described as 'teenyboppers at Number 10'."

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Taylor warned that without early legislation the government had "not the slightest chance" of meeting the 20% target.

'Support across government'

Mr Meacher, interviewed on the same programme, dismissed as "absolute nonsense" reports that Downing Street had blocked his department's plans for energy taxes.

The environment minister said the consultation paper, released on Monday, was intended to launch a "national debate" on the subject.

"This is a very wide-ranging set of policy drivers. It has support across the whole of government, and there's no question of it being blocked."

He confirmed the government was still aiming for the 20% reduction by 2010, although "our main target is of course the legally-binding target".

He insisted the government intended to try and get a reduction in road emissions.

Asked if green taxes on industry remained on the agenda, he said: "Oh yes, we are quite prepared to accept a mix of instruments, and taxation is by no means excluded."

Mr Meacher also said there was scope for action in the home, which was responsible for a quarter of emissions.

He suggested the use of cavity wall insulation, condensing boilers, compact fluorescent light bulbs, more efficient appliances and community heating schemes.

Flooding and famine warning

UK is aiming for a 20% cut in emissions

Scientists have warned that worldwide flooding, droughts and food shortages may happen if no action is taken to reduce the build up of carbon dioxide and other warming gases in the atmosphere.

The main culprits include emissions from industry and from motor vehicles.

Agreements made by governments at the Kyoto conference are expected to save one million of the 23 million people expected to be drowned or made homeless by storm flooding as a result of global warming caused by greenhouse gases.

DIY retailer B&Q has announced that it intends to become carbon neutral as part of its contribution to reduce the effects of global warming.

'Prepare for change'

Five of the government's senior advisers on global warming argued last week that more should be done to prepare for climate change.

They said that extra heat and droughts will make growing food very difficult in some regions, arguing that money should be spent on developing drought resistant plants and introducing new staple crops in areas where existing staples can no longer be grown because the climate has become too harsh.

Experts argue that adapting to the changes will save more people than cutting emissions - for example, that reducing fresh water demand by 5% with better irrigation saved more people than a 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

UK to get warmer

Government scientists have said the impact of climate change in the UK is likely to be considerable.