This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/6095680.stm

The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Miliband 'draws up green taxes' Miliband draws up green tax plan
(about 4 hours later)
The environment secretary is proposing green taxes designed to change people's behaviour to offset global warming, according to a Sunday newspaper. Environment Secretary David Miliband has confirmed the government is holding discussions on tackling climate change using green taxes.
The Mail on Sunday quotes a leaked letter from David Miliband to Chancellor Gordon Brown. He refused to confirm details, shown in a leaked letter, which may include "pay as you drive", cheap-flight taxes and levies on energy-wasting appliances.
Proposals include "pay as you drive" and cheap flight taxes and levies on energy-wasting appliances, it says. He told Sky News that "the longer we wait, the more costly it will be".
Meanwhile Conservative leader David Cameron has told the BBC he would be prepared to tax air travel.Meanwhile Conservative leader David Cameron has told the BBC he would be prepared to tax air travel.
This comes ahead of a report expected to warn climate change may cut global annual economic output by up to 20%. Liberal Democrat leader, Sir Menzies Campbell, said "hard choices" had to be made to combat climate change.
The comments come ahead of a report expected to warn climate change may cut global annual economic output by up to 20%.
The influential report by economist Nicholas Stern is due to be published on Monday.The influential report by economist Nicholas Stern is due to be published on Monday.
Ahead of this, the Mail on Sunday says the leaked letter from 18 October calls for urgent action in next month's public spending review and next year's Budget. The Mail on Sunday quotes a leaked letter from Mr Miliband to Chancellor Gordon Brown from 18 October, which it says calls for urgent action in next month's public spending review and next year's Budget.
In the letter to Mr Brown, Mr Miliband calls for measures to combat "car use and ownership", and a "substantial increase" in road tax, the paper claims. He also calls for a new pay-per-mile pollution tax. In the letter, Mr Miliband calls for measures to combat "car use and ownership", and a "substantial increase" in road tax, the paper claims. He also calls for a new pay-per-mile pollution tax.
The paper said leaked proposals suggest families with big cars could end up paying more than £1,000 a year in additional tax.The paper said leaked proposals suggest families with big cars could end up paying more than £1,000 a year in additional tax.
'Tax flights''Tax flights'
Changing people's behaviour is only achieved by "market forces and price signals," Mr Miliband wrote.Changing people's behaviour is only achieved by "market forces and price signals," Mr Miliband wrote.
He added: "As our understandings of climate change increases, it is clear more needs to be done."He added: "As our understandings of climate change increases, it is clear more needs to be done."
The minister also suggests making flights subject to VAT, for either domestic flights or "better still all EU flights," the Mail says.The minister also suggests making flights subject to VAT, for either domestic flights or "better still all EU flights," the Mail says.
Mr Miliband also told Sky News that the UK was responsible for "two per cent of global emissions" and that it was "vital that this is a global response, not just a national response".
He said: "In the UK I think we should be proud that our country is leading the way in the reduction of the greenhouses gases, the carbon dioxides that are so dangerous.
Higher emission vehicles could face higher road taxHigher emission vehicles could face higher road tax
"It's very significant that the economics revealed by Sir Nicholas Stern's report should be that the longer we wait - and certainly the longer we wait beyond the ten to 15 year timeframe that's set by the scientists - the longer we wait, the more costly it will be.
"I think it's good that the Conservatives have come out of the Stone Age, they want to debate these issues.
"I look forward to the next election when all parties are competing to show that they can make a difference on the climate."
Tax hikes
Sir Menzies told BBC One's Sunday AM programme: "We have absolutely no option but to deal with the problem of climate change and nothing but hard choices will do it."
Meanwhile Mr Cameron spoke about green levies in a pre-recorded interview for the BBC One's The Politics Show.Meanwhile Mr Cameron spoke about green levies in a pre-recorded interview for the BBC One's The Politics Show.
He told the programme: "Some green taxes do hit the poorest in our society, so we have to think about that very carefully before we make taxation decisions.He told the programme: "Some green taxes do hit the poorest in our society, so we have to think about that very carefully before we make taxation decisions.
"If it means putting a tax on air travel, then yes, that's something we'd be prepared to do.""If it means putting a tax on air travel, then yes, that's something we'd be prepared to do."
But he said budgetary decisions should be made closer to budgetary times.But he said budgetary decisions should be made closer to budgetary times.
"We'll come up with those ideas closer to a general election - but green taxes will go up."
Mr Cameron also gave his backing to Liberal Democrat-controlled Richmond council's plans to charge the drivers of the most polluting vehicles higher parking fees.Mr Cameron also gave his backing to Liberal Democrat-controlled Richmond council's plans to charge the drivers of the most polluting vehicles higher parking fees.
Economic impact
Elsewhere, ex-cabinet minister Stephen Byers has said there may be need to introduce green taxes, according to the Observer newspaper.
The paper said he told an audience of businessmen in China this weekend that: "For the Labour party there must be no no-go areas for policy debate.
"We should consider how we can change the structure of our tax system in a way which benefits the lowest-paid and penalises environmentally damaging activity," it quotes him as saying."
The Stern Review, due out on Monday, will examine economic, not environmental, arguments of global warming.The Stern Review, due out on Monday, will examine economic, not environmental, arguments of global warming.
Sir Nicholas's report is expected to claim that at the very best the cost of tackling global warming would be 1% of annual economic output.Sir Nicholas's report is expected to claim that at the very best the cost of tackling global warming would be 1% of annual economic output.
The report looked at the impact of global warming on economic output, or gross domestic product (GDP), until 2100.The report looked at the impact of global warming on economic output, or gross domestic product (GDP), until 2100.
A new report, Up In Smoke 2, based on research from a coalition of UK aid agencies and environmental groups, says climate change is already affecting Africa.