Radiohead's Yorke in climate call

The Radiohead star talked of his fears about global warming

Radiohead singer Thom Yorke has said his fears over climate change prompted him to back a Friends of the Earth campaign to reduce carbon emissions.

The Big Ask campaign urges ministers to bring in new laws to reduce British CO2 emissions by 3% a year.

Mr Yorke said: "A 3% reduction in carbon emissions year on year is the only sane solution to this problem."

An NOP survey for Friends of the Earth suggests 73% of people think ministers are not doing enough on climate change.

'Large villains'

FOE director Tony Juniper said: "Climate change is the biggest threat the planet faces - urgent action is desperately needed but despite government promises to cut carbon dioxide levels, emissions are continuing to rise."

A spokesman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said the UK was on target to meet its obligations under Kyoto - to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5% below base year levels by 2008-12.

"This is a significant achievement," the spokesman added.

Mr Yorke told BBC Breakfast that individuals taking responsibility by doing their share of recycling was important but was only part of the solution.

"There are a series of very large villains that the government know about that need to be dealt with," he added.