The British government is commissioning a report on the impact of climate change in Africa, Margaret Beckett has announced.

Addressing a sustainable development conference on Wednesday, the environment secretary also launched a consultation on the UK's strategy for promoting environmentally friendly policies.

Working with the administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the government said it was putting climate change top of its agenda.

"The UK has shown leadership both domestically and within Europe," said Beckett.

"But we should also remember that those who will suffer worst from climate change are those who start with least.

"A two degree change in climate here, would mean a four degree change in central Africa.

"The economic and humanitarian consequences in a continent already suffering the burden of Aids and malaria are potentially catastrophic.

"We need to understand the impact on Africa and on the world's ability to deliver the Millennium Development Goals and commitments made at other major UN summits."

Ministers hope the report will "provide the evidence base to inform international action".

Beckett also announced the establishment of a new round table on sustainable consumption, to be jointly chaired by Ed Mayo of the National Consumer Council and Alan Knight of B&Q

"One of the hardest challenges we confront at home is how we, as a nation, can move to more sustainable lifestyles and reduce the impacts we have on the local and global environment," she explained.

"This is an area where people are rightly suspicious of government intervention - yet we know that current consumption patterns exact too high a price."

Commenting on the announcement, Liberal Democrat enviroment spokesman Norman Baker warned that "the suspicion must be that yet more consultation is simply there to give the appearance of activity, while hiding the reality of inaction".

"Margaret Beckett should be spending her time rectifying the glaring problems already identified rather than attempting to buy time with more frothy consultations," he said.