The UK has become the first nation to propose laws that set binding national limits on greenhouse gas emissions.

[Oh No-More tax and Inspectors?]

The draft Climate Change Bill, published on Tuesday, requires that carbon dioxide emissions are cut by 26% to 32% by 2020 and 60% by 2050, relative to 1990 levels. It also:

• requires a "carbon budget" every five years to ensure the targets are reached
• creates an independent monitoring committee to check progress each year
• requires that the UK government reports at least every five years on current and predicted impacts of climate change, and on its proposals for adaptation

The carbon budgets will set five-year interim targets to help the nation achieve its 2050 goal. The first such budget should be set for the period 2008 to 2012, and there will always be three carbon budgets set, covering the 15 years ahead. Watch a video of UK environment minister David Miliband presenting the climate change bill.