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Parties battle over green agenda Parties battle over green agenda
(40 minutes later)
Chancellor Gordon Brown and Conservative leader David Cameron will battle for leadership of the green agenda as they outline rival visions. Chancellor Gordon Brown and Conservative leader David Cameron are battling for leadership of the green agenda as they outline rival visions.
The two men are delivering keynote speeches on climate change in a bid to seize the lead on the environment. Mr Brown will say "Euroscepticism" makes it harder for the Tories to achieve global agreements on cutting carbon emissions.
Mr Brown will dismiss the Tories' ability to tackle green issues in the European Union because of the party's euro scepticism. Mr Cameron is urging ministers to set annual, not just long-term, targets.
Mr Cameron will call on the government to set annual emissions targets. The environment is seen as a key issue for the two men expected to lead their parties into the next general election.
We believe taxation is an extremely blunt instrument in terms of reducing carbon emissions British Airways Airlines oppose Tory plans Travellers give their viewsWe believe taxation is an extremely blunt instrument in terms of reducing carbon emissions British Airways Airlines oppose Tory plans Travellers give their views
The environment is seen as a key electoral battleground for the two men who are expected to lead their parties into the next general election. The chancellor, speaking in London, will argue that it is essential to work through bodies such as the European Union to reach international agreements.
The chancellor, speaking in London, will highlight the government's role in setting new European Union standards on carbon dioxide emissions. Mr Cameron, addressing a Conservative Party environmental summit, will call for strict annual targets to be included in the government's Climate Change Bill, due to be launched on Tuesday.
He will argue that it is essential to work through bodies such as the European Union to reach international agreements on reducing greenhouse gases. 'Timetable slip'
'Targets needed' The bill will outline long-term goals to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 60% by 2050, but will not include annual targets.
Mr Cameron, addressing a Tory Party environmental summit, will challenge the government to set strict annual targets in its Climate Change Bill, due to be launched on Tuesday. "Without annual rate of change targets, it's too easy for the timetable to slip," Mr Cameron will say.
"Without annual rate of change targets, it's too easy for the timetable to slip," he will say.
"And once it has slipped, it's much harder to make up the difference later.""And once it has slipped, it's much harder to make up the difference later."
He will also say that the Climate Change Bill needs teeth and that his party will do all it can to "improve the bill". He will also say his party will do all it can to "improve" the bill.
Chancellor Gordon Brown will try to seize back the green agendaChancellor Gordon Brown will try to seize back the green agenda
The speeches follow the Tories' launch of a bold package of proposals that includes taxing frequent fliers and a "per flight" tax based on carbon emissions. The speeches follow the Tories' launch of proposals including taxing frequent fliers and a tax on flights based on the level of carbon emissions.
Speaking on BBC Radio Five Live Mr Cameron said that a plane packed with holidaymakers pays "an enormous amount" of tax while an "empty aeroplane flying to the same destination pays nothing". Air travel was not being taxed in a "particularly smart" way, he added. Mr Cameron told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that former US vice-president Al Gore - who starred in the Academy Award-winning environmental film An Inconvenient Truth - would address a meeting of Conservative frontbenchers on Friday.
But Mr Brown is set to criticise the proposals as "ill-conceived" and "unworkable" measures. Meanwhile, Mr Brown is set to criticise the Tories' proposals as "ill-conceived" and "unworkable".
"Changes must be considered, costed, credible and consumer friendly not ill-conceived, short-termist, unworkable and unfair," he will say. "Changes must be considered, costed, credible and consumer-friendly, not ill-conceived, short-termist, unworkable and unfair," he will say.
Referring to the Tories' approach to Europe, he will say: "Euro-scepticism and continent-wide environmental action are at odds with each other. 'No influence'
Referring to the Tories' approach to Europe, he will say: "Euroscepticism and continent-wide environmental action are at odds with each other.
"A government ambivalent about the UK's future in Europe and allied to the most reactionary forces in the European Parliament would have no credibility, no influence and no achievements.""A government ambivalent about the UK's future in Europe and allied to the most reactionary forces in the European Parliament would have no credibility, no influence and no achievements."
Mr Brown will also set out steps individuals and businesses can take to save energy in their daily lives. Mr Brown will set out steps individuals and businesses can take to save energy.
Green credentials questioned
But the Green Alliance, the group hosting Mr Brown's speech, criticised the government's green credentials.But the Green Alliance, the group hosting Mr Brown's speech, criticised the government's green credentials.
HAVE YOUR SAY This 'global warming' rubbish is just stuff and nonsense put out as an excuse to raise taxes Rich Wintie, Bournemouth Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY This 'global warming' rubbish is just stuff and nonsense put out as an excuse to raise taxes Rich Wintie, Bournemouth Send us your comments
The group said the Conservatives' plans for new aviation taxes showed that they were more radical than the government. It said the Conservatives' plans for new aviation taxes showed that they were more radical than the government.
The chancellor has also come under pressure from former environment minister and Labour leadership contender Michael Meacher.The chancellor has also come under pressure from former environment minister and Labour leadership contender Michael Meacher.
Echoing Conservative calls, he urged the government to set binding annual emissions targets as part of the Climate Change Bill. Echoing Conservative calls, he urged the government to set binding annual emissions targets.
It must have "an explicit strategy" to deliver 60% cuts by 2050, he said.It must have "an explicit strategy" to deliver 60% cuts by 2050, he said.
"Anything less would be more cosmetic palliatives in the war against climate change.""Anything less would be more cosmetic palliatives in the war against climate change."
The Climate Change Bill will outline the government's long-term goal to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 60% by 2050, but will not include annual targets.