UK government plans bill on climate change - BBC

LONDON, Oct 13 (Reuters) The British government plans to include a bill aimed at tackling climate change in its legislative programme for the coming year, the BBC reported today.

The draft law would include set targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the public broadcaster said.

Britain is set to meet its Kyoto target of cutting carbon emissions by 12 million tonnes by 2012, but the government is under pressure from opposition parties and environmental groups to introduce laws setting enforceable national targets.

Environment Secretary David Miliband told the BBC it was important to take action to tackle global warming.

''Of course people don't just want aspirations, they want action and we are looking at whether the legislation in the next session of parliament could help meet this global challenge of climate change,'' Miliband said in an interview yesterday.

''I think we need to be serious about the big changes that we need to see for businesses, for government and for individuals,'' he said. ''If legislation can help then the government won't hesitate to put it forward.'' The government's legislative agenda will be outlined by Queen Elizabeth in a speech to parliament next month.

Officials at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs were not immediately available for comment.

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