Blair under fire over global warming

The Government's record on the environment came under intense scrutiny today as Tony Blair promised to put Britain at the forefront of the international battle against climate change.

The Prime Minister wants to use his influence on the world stage to push the issue to the top of the agenda. But green campaigners say Labour has failed to keep its election pledges on the environment and accused Mr Blair of caving in to the interests of big business.

Mr Blair will today describe global warming as the gravest challenge facing the planet. In a landmark speech to environmentalists, he is expected to say Britain has made huge strides in tackling the problem and criticise countries he believes are not doing enough.

Addressing Prince Charles' Business and the Environment charity, he will warn that the massive expansion of the aviation industry has devastating implications for the environment, and call on airlines to sign new agreements to reduce greenhouse gases.

He is expected to paint a glowing picture of the Government's own record in cutting carbon dioxide emissions, claiming Britain is on track to meet its Kyoto target of a

12.5 per cent reduction by 2010.

But the claims triggered an angry reaction from environment campaigners. Friends of the Earth director Tony Juniper said: "The Prime Minister must awaken the world to the scale of the problem and say that the time has come for tough decisions, and tough action.

"But his warning will carry greater weight if it is backed by firm action to tackle the problem at home. Since 1997, New Labour has been able to get away with a lacklustre environmental programme, not least because the official opposition has been asleep on the job."

Mr Blair's speech comes a day after Tory leader Michael Howard accused the Prime Minister of "lecturing people" and "failure to follow up bold rhetoric with action that inspires trust".

The Prime Minister hopes to galvanise the international community against global warming. He will reiterate his call to the United States to sign the Kyoto treaty. He also wants to appease Labour voters, opposed to the Iraq war and his close relationship with George Bush, by demonstrating the radical nature of Labour's third-term agenda. It follows a year of hurricanes, floods and droughts, which have killed thousands, and lent a new urgency to the campaign.

However, critics say the Government has failed to tackle the problem at home. Among the key criticisms are the failure to reduce traffic levels - which have risen by around one per cent a year under Labour - and the power sector's continuing reliance on coal.

Mr Juniper said: "The Government must rethink its own strategy for tackling climate change and dramatically cut carbon dioxide emissions from industry and the transport sector."

Critics also claim the Government's Aviation White Paper - setting out plans for expansion of the industry - directly contradicts long-term climate change targets.