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Brown outlining climate targets PM outlines climate action plan
(about 1 hour later)
Gordon Brown is expected to raise the prospect of tougher targets on carbon emissions, as he gives his first major speech on the environment. Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said there will be a "green hotline" to advise people on what they can do to cut their impact on the environment.
He will say action on climate change is urgent, but that new green industries could create thousands of jobs. Mr Brown, who said the UK's emission target of a 60% cut by 2050 could be increased to 80%, said he would also seek the end of one-use plastic bags.
The prime minister is also expected to say that developed countries must lead the way in cutting carbon emissions. In his first speech on the environment as PM he said there would be "hard choices and tough decisions".
Planned legislation sets a tough target of cutting Britain's emissions by 60% by 2050. But he said Britain could lead the world and gain thousands of jobs.
But Mr Brown believes there may be a case for going even further and may commit to what could be as much as a doubling of the targets to produce renewable energy by 2020. Mr Brown said he would ask the new climate change committee to look into the higher emissions target - and also phasing out of one use plastic bags - and report back on how they might be achieved.
On Britain's commitment to increase its amount of renewable energy - Mr Brown said the European Commission would be reporting soon on the amount individual EU countries would be expected to contribute.
UN alarmUN alarm
It is understood he has been persuaded by the Department of the Environment's arguments that Britain must meet European obligations on wind, wave and solar power. But he said "we are committed to meeting our share" of the EU's overall target that 20% of energy will come from renewable sources by 2020.
Mr Brown's spokesman said: "The prime minister is setting out his views on major issues in a comprehensive way." And the prime minister also said he wanted to work with countries like the US and Japan to establish a new "funding framework", to help developing countries adjust to low carbon growth, adapt to climate change and tackle deforestation.
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has challenged governments to act on the findings of a major new report on climate change, saying real and affordable ways to deal with the problem existed.United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has challenged governments to act on the findings of a major new report on climate change, saying real and affordable ways to deal with the problem existed.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says climate change is "unequivocal" and may bring "abrupt and irreversible" impacts.The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says climate change is "unequivocal" and may bring "abrupt and irreversible" impacts.
Climate change will be discussed at a forthcoming summit of Commonwealth leaders, just ahead of a UN meeting in Indonesia where a new global deal on emissions will be considered.Climate change will be discussed at a forthcoming summit of Commonwealth leaders, just ahead of a UN meeting in Indonesia where a new global deal on emissions will be considered.