Benn promises environment action

Hilary Benn has announced a range of measures in a bid to cut carbon emissions.

Speaking on the final day of the Labour Party conference, the environment secretary vowed to make the UK a world leader in tackling global warming.

Benn said that the government intends to phase out all high-energy light bulbs to reduce energy use.

"The major retailers and energy suppliers are now leading a voluntary initiative, with strong support of the lighting industry and government, to help phase out traditional high-energy light bulbs," he said.

"We need to turn them off for good. So our aim is for traditional 150-watt light bulbs to be phased out by January next year, 100-watt bulbs the year after, 40-watt bulbs the year after that and all high energy bulbs by 2011.

"This will save five million tonnes of CO2 a year and take us closer to our 2050 target."

Benn said that the move was part of a package of measures to tackle climate change and called on the US administration to take the issue seriously and sign up to new international agreements.

"December's crucial meeting in Bali must answer that call for action by agreeing to start negotiations on a new international deal to replace the Kyoto protocol and make us a low carbon world," he added.

"Every country must play its part – from China to the USA. The biggest economy in the world must take on binding commitments to reduce emissions. Voluntary action isn't enough," he said.