Britain to unveil "route map" to low carbon future

By Peter Griffiths

LONDON (Reuters) - The government will say Wednesday how it plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions and tackle climate change by investing in nuclear and renewable power and promoting greater energy efficiency.

Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband will publish a "route map" for British emissions cuts of 34 percent by 2020 from 1990 levels and at least 80 percent by 2050 to avoid the "massive dangers" posed by global warming.

Britain's transition to a low carbon economy will see the country move away from imported oil and gas towards a mix of energy sources that are more sustainable, Miliband said.

"It does mean big changes in people's lives," Miliband told the BBC ahead of the publication of the government's policy document on energy.

The document will build on an agreement reached at a Group of Eight summit in Italy this month that temperature rises should be limited to 2 Celsius.

While some climate experts were lukewarm about that agreement, Miliband said it will be "very significant" in the run-up to global climate talks in Copenhagen in December.

"They have got to put offers on the table to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions which can achieve that now," he said.

"AMBITIOUS" NUCLEAR PLANS