Climate change bill published

By Jeremy Lovell

LONDON (Reuters) - The government published a ground-breaking climate change bill on Thursday, starting a parliamentary process that could lead to a legal limit on national emissions of carbon gases within six months.

The bill sets a target of cutting national emissions of climate-warming carbon dioxide by 60 percent by 2050.

It would make Britain the first country to adopt such a legally binding commitment.

"This bill is a landmark in environmental legislation and will set us firmly on the path to the low-carbon economy we know is fundamental to our future," said Environment Secretary Hilary Benn.

"This bill shows the world that we're serious and that we're not asking other countries, and in particular poorer countries, to do what we're not willing to do ourselves."

Environmentalists and many politicians had campaigned for a higher goal of 80 percent and annual targets along the way.

But the government has rejected annual targets in favour of rolling five-year "carbon budgets" and has until recently ruled out raising the end goal above 60 percent.

Benn said last month he would ask a climate-monitoring committee to be set up by the bill to see if 80 percent was necessary or feasible.