Majority of Britons want new environmental law

LONDON, May 1 (Reuters) Three quarters of Britons would like to see a new law introduced forcing successive governments to commit to reducing carbon emissions, a survey showed today.

Environmental group Friends of the Earth, who commissioned the online poll, said 75 per cent of those asked wanted governments to tackle climate change by making a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 3 per cent each year.

Britain said in March it was likely to miss its target to slash CO2 emissions by a fifth by 2010, compared with the 1990 level.

The subject has also risen up the political agenda following the election of 39-year-old David Cameron as leader of the opposition Conservative party in December.

Cameron has repeatedly talked about his desire to make the environment a priority and in April he travelled to Norway to see first hand the effects of global warming.

The poll of people aged between 16 and 64 was released to coincide with a series of Bank Holiday Monday concerts across the country to promote Friends of the Earth's climate campaign called ''The Big Ask''.

Among the line up for the headline gig in London is Radiohead singer Thom Yorke.

''Like Thom Yorke and the other artists playing The Big Ask Live, the vast majority of people want to see the government take action to tackle climate change,'' Friends' director Tony Jupiter said in a statement.

''This means a new climate change law that would require the government to make annual reductions in the UK's carbon emissions.'' The online poll questioned 1,233 people over the Internet.

Reuters SHB VP0920