California is to introduce a bill to limit greenhouse gas emissions, the first US state to do so.

The bill, proposed by Democrat speaker Fabian Nunez and Democrat assemblywoman Fran Pavley, aims to cut emissions by 25 per cent by 2020 – equal to 145 million tonnes.

"We cannot continue to ignore the threat of global warming to our environment because it isn't just about the future, it's about the impact that it's already having on our public health. It's about the impact that it's already having on our planet, our natural resources," Mr Nunez told reporters.

The bill includes a mandatory system of reporting and monitoring emission levels to ensure that all local businesses are following the limits. This would apply to the largest polluting industries including oil and gas exploration and production firms, oil refining and cement manufacturing companies as well as electricity producers.

Other measures to limit greenhouse gas emissions include a commitment to developing a public education campaign to stress the importance of combating climate change as well as the possible introduction of a "public goods charge" on fuel and a mandatory fee on major greenhouse gas polluters to help cover the cost of emission-reduction efforts.

Leading green action groups in the UK have called for similar action to be taken in Britain.

Following the admission by the government last week that it would miss targets to reduce emissions, Tony Juniper of Friends of the Earth told the BBC: "Our energy efficiency programmes are still extremely modest."

Mr Juniper has accused the government of caving in to political pressure and not producing a strong enough response to the pressing issue of climate change.

He called for a new law that would make the government legally responsible for delivering annual cuts in CO2 emissions.


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