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MAY DAY FOR PLANET

PM will commit Britain to going carbon-neutral by 2050 despite cost concerns

THERESA MAY will today commit Britain to going carbon neutral by 2050 – despite huge concerns over the cost.

The Prime Minister will implore Parliament to “safeguard the environment for our children” and insist “standing by is not an option”.

 Theresa May wants Parliament to create a safer environment for children
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Theresa May wants Parliament to create a safer environment for childrenCredit: AP:Associated Press

Legislation will be laid in the Commons today. And the move will put the UK on the path to becoming the first G7 country to hit the ‘net-zero’ emissions target.

Mrs May will say: “This country led the world in innovation during the Industrial Revolution, and now we must lead the world to a cleaner, greener form of growth.”

The pledge comes just days after Chancellor Philip Hammond warned Theresa May the country faced a £1TRILLION bill if it committed to the target.

And he urged Downing Street to allow the Treasury the chance to review how best to protect consumers and industry from the huge cost.

CAP CENTRAL HEATING

Under the plans announced, the Government said it would carry out a review in five years’ time to ensure other nations were taking similar action so UK industries “do not face unfair competition”.

And sources claimed the costs of any environmental measures had to be weight against the cost of “doing nothing”.

A Committee on Climate Change (CCC) urged Ministers last month to back recommendations to cap central heating, ditch the car and fly less in a bid to slash carbon emissions to ‘net zero’ by 2050.

The Committee led by Lord Debden demanded Ministers back the plan – and lead the world.

The peer said people should limit thermostats to 19 degrees and be forced to buy electric cars from 2030 – ten years ahead of current Government plans.

He added that Brits should slash the amount of beef, lamb and diary they eat by at least a fifth.

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