By DAVID DERBYSHIRE - More by this author »
Last updated at 23:17pm on 15th November 2007
Britons face a future of green taxes, higher fuel prices and even flight rationing under anti-pollution laws unveiled yesterday.
A Climate Change Bill would make the UK the only country with legally binding targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The five-yearly goals would cost the UK up to £12billion a year for the next 42 years.
The Government was warned that a switch to a low-carbon economy would trigger an economic slowdown and job losses while giving politicians the excuse for unpopular taxes, hike the cost of fuel and even bring in "personal carbon quotas".
Critics also point out the move would be pointless if countries such as China, Russia and India refuse to introduce similar targets.
Launching the Bill yesterday, the Government said Britain has a duty to lead by example. It argues that the costs of climate-change related flooding, droughts and illnesses would be far higher if it failed to act.
The Bill does not say how carbon dioxide emissions will be cut. However, it commits the Government to a 60 per cent reduction by 2050. One method could be personal carbon-allowances, where everyone is given a fixed amount of carbon to use each year.
Each time they travel in a plane, buy petrol, go shopping or eat out would be recorded on a plastic card. The more frugal could sell spare carbon to those who want to indulge themselves. But if you were to run out of your carbon allowance, you could be barred from flying or driving.
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