Labour fails to meet its greenhouse gas targets

Labour will miss its target to cut greenhouse gases, Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett said today.

The Government promised to cut carbon dioxide levels by 20 per cent before the end of the decade but on present trends they will only achieve a 15 per cent reduction. "We set ourselves ambitious targets and have to do more to reach them," said Mrs Beckett.

Labour's failure to reduce emissions is an embarrassment to Tony Blair, who promised to make climate change the focus of Britain's G8 presidency next year.

Friends of the Earth director Tony Juniper said: "If the Climate Change Programme fails to make significant cuts in UK greenhouse gas emissions, the Prime Minister's ability to persuade other countries to take the issue seriously will be totally undermined."

Liberal Democrat environment spokesman Norman Baker said: "Mr Blair's record on climate change shows he will always take the side of the polluter.

"He has consistently pulled the green carpet from under Margaret Beckett's feet to appease the smoke-stack DTI."