Blair must consider an environmental coalition of the willing

9.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 6th Jul 2005

Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Secretary, Norman Baker MP today warned the Prime Minister that if President Bush failed to agree to a minimum list of demands on climate change it would be better to proceed without the US through "an environmental coalition of the willing".

The minimum requirements:

1. Acceptance of the science that climate change is a man-made problem;

2. The setting of a minimum international target of a 60% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2050;

3. Acceptance of the need for a post-Kyoto agreement, using a country-based target-approach to reducing emissions;

4. Agreement that post-Kyoto agreements must bring on board developing nations such as India and China;

5. Specific agreement on a programme of agreed funding to invest in low carbon technologies.

Commenting, Mr Baker said:

"To agree to any less than these 5 points would be a serious step backwards. If the US fails to agree then an environmental coalition of the willing, including Britain, will have to proceed without them."