Britain eyes 50-percent carbon emissions cut target

Britain on Tuesday unveiled plans to cut its carbon emissions by 50 percent from 1990 levels by 2025, saying the proposal marked a significant step forward in its efforts to fight climate change.

Energy Minister Chris Huhne unveiled Britain's fourth "carbon budget", which governs the country's carbon emissions between 2023 and 2027, in the lower House of Commons.

"It puts Britain at the leading edge of a new global industrial transformation as well as making good our determination that this will be the greenest government ever," he said.

Prime Minister David Cameron added: "This is the right approach for Britain if we are to combat climate change, secure our energy supplies for the long-term and seize the economic opportunities that green industries hold."

Britain's third "carbon budget", which covers the years 2018 to 2022, commits the country to making cuts of 35 percent in emissions compared to 1990 levels.

The European Union has committed to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2020 compared to levels in 1990.

Britain, France and Germany have led calls to increase the commitment to 30 percent.

(c) 2011 AFP