UK pioneers climate legislation

Britain has become the first country to propose legislation setting limits on greenhouse gas emissions. The draft Climate Change bill, which calls on carbon dioxide emissions to be cut by 60 percent by 2050, sets out five-year budgets. It is being presented to parliament today and will have to go to public and parliamentary consultation before it can become law next year.

Environment minister David Milliband said energy efficiency measures must be a prioroty, adding that controversial plans for nuclear power have a role to play alongside renweable energy. He also said one of the aims of the bill was to extend carbon emissions trading to all British businesses from only half now. Environmentalists and some lawmakers, including the leader of the opposition conservatives, have said they will press for more stringent goals.

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