Chris Huhne will make a statement to MPs on the carbon budget Chris Huhne is to set out plans to cut carbon emissions in half by 2027 and change the way Britain produces energy.The energy secretary - who is at the centre of a storm over claims he asked someone close to him to take speeding points for him - will unveil the UK's fourth "carbon budget" in the Commons.
He reportedly won a battle with Lib Dem colleague Vince Cable over the targets amid fears they will hurt the economy.
But they could include an "opt-out" if EU competitors fail on similar aims.
'Prime minister intervention'The 2027 targets follow recommendations from the government's official advisory body, the Committee on Climate Change.
It has urged the UK to accept a global agreement roughly equating to an emissions cut of 50% - based on 1990 levels - by 2025.
The 2027 target, which is expected to be similar, forms part of reaching a longer-term aim of a 60% reduction by 2030.
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Richard Black Environment correspondent Tuesday's announcement will make the UK the first country in the world to have declared a "legally binding" target on greenhouse gas emissions beyond 2020.
The set of five-yearly carbon budgets maps out the stages the UK should go through on the way to its long-term goal of cutting emissions by 80% by 2050.
There are many different pathways the country could take - the Committee on Climate Change, which recommends these budgets to government, sets out what it sees as the most economic route.
The business lobby has secured some concessions on the basis that the UK could lose competitiveness to its EU partners, as its emissions are now more tightly constrained.
One big question is whether these concessions materially affect the strength of the target itself.
But the budget's adoption should give extra confidence to companies wanting to invest in low-carbon energy.
A leaked letter last week exposed a row between Mr Huhne and Business Secretary Vince Cable over the proposed targets.Prime Minister David Cameron was reported to have intervened on the side of Mr Huhne after Mr Cable reportedly complained that the "too aggressive" targets would "burden" the UK economy.
As it emerged the Lib Dem ministers were apparently at loggerheads, a coalition of environmental groups issued a warning to Mr Cameron that he risked seriously undermining his pledge to lead the "greenest government ever" if he did not back the targets.
Labour leader Ed Miliband also seized on the evidence of internal disagreement, writing to the prime minister to say failing to agree them would send "a terrible signal" to business and the rest of the world.
Higher pricesForeign Secretary William Hague put the case for strong carbon targets to keep up with countries like China in the move towards low-carbon energy, and to retain the UK's international moral leadership on the issue.
However, the BBC understands that the UK's main energy-using industries have secured key concessions from the government to ease the impact of higher electricity prices.
But consumer watchdog Which? has expressed concern that domestic customers will not be similarly shielded from price rises.
The Committee on Climate Change has forecast that to meet emissions targets the average household fuel bill will go up by ?1 a week until 2020 when it will plateau out with no major rises after that.
Greenpeace has described the agreement as "rare victory for the green growth agenda" in the face of what it said was "vehement" opposition from the Treasury and the Department of Business.
But Friends of the Earth said Mr Huhne should have gone further and accepted advice to tighten the UK's existing 34% emissions reduction target, by 2020, to compensate for the cuts already achieved due to the recession.
A Department of Energy source defended the government's handling of the issue, arguing that it would be wrong to pre-empt discussions under way in the EU and the UK was still arguing to increase the EU 2020 target from 20% to 30%.
Mr Huhne will make a statement on the carbon budget to the Commons at around 1630 BST.
The plans were originally to be announced in a written ministerial statement, a move which had drawn criticism from Opposition MPs.
Shadow climate change secretary Meg Hillier had said it would "beggar belief" if Mr Huhne did not make a statement to the House on such a key issue - and claimed he might be a "bit afraid" to face MPs.
He is currently at the centre of media storm over allegations, being investigated by police, that he asked his someone close to him to take speeding points for him in 2003.
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