Britain has become the first country to unveil legislation that would set binding limits on emissions of greenhouse gas. The proposal calls for a reduction of 60 percent by the year 2050. British Prime Minister Tony Blair said the targets would set the stage for a continent-wide standard in Europe.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair: “At the heart of our approach is to set a series of tasks for ourselves as a country here, nationally, but then secondly to make sure we tackle climate change at a European level, and last week’s agreement in the European Council was again an epoch-making agreement. It’s the first time a group of nations has come together and agreed such ambitious targets for the reduction of emission of greenhouse gases.”

Several environmental groups say the legislation should go further. The British group Christian Aid is calling for a targeted reduction of 80 percent.