By Roger Harrabin
The environment analyst of the British Broadcasting Corporation.
The image is from PA Media.
Advisers have warned that the UK is not close to meeting emissions targets.
The Climate Change Committee says that the UK will contribute to a disastrous temperature rise by the year 2200.
This could be brought down to just under 2C in theory.
If ministers agree on tougher policies, this could happen.
The government insists that it will meet its climate change targets.
The UK should improve its emissions targets because scientists say any temperature rise approaching 2C is extremely dangerous.
Britain will set a better example to the world if it keeps the same targets, says the CCC.
The government must push people towards a more sustainable lifestyle and tackle emissions from farming more aggressively.
Chris Stark, the committee's chief executive, said that the government is nowhere near achieving current targets.
The gap between ambition and delivery will be widened if it sets tougher targets. We need to strengthen delivery and show the world that it can be done.
A group has come up with ideas to support Britain's climate leadership.
They include producing convincing plans to cut emissions by 22% by the year 2035, and drawing up agreements to reduce emissions from steel and cement.
The emissions created to make the stuff British residents buy should be reduced by the UK.
Goods imported into the UK could be subject to taxes.
The final agreement at the COP could be used as a basis for another strategy.
The image is from the same source.
The image caption is.
Boris Johnson admitted there was a long way to go in tackling climate change, but he was cautiously optimistic.
The committee says this allows the government to change tax policy so that fossil fuels pay for the damage they do to the climate. The current tax system is inefficient because it doesn't take into account pollution that is damaging the climate.
The proposal could lead to increases in the cost of fuel.
Senior ministers have warned against policies that could increase the cost of living for some, as the government has been reviewing tax options.
The Treasury's role in emissions policy is a concern for UK climate experts. The Chancellor was blamed for not supporting the Green Homes Grant. He did not mention climate change in his Budget.
John Sauven said the government is moving too slowly.
It's outrageous that the committee thinks it's ok for the UK to contribute to a temperature rise. We know that a rise of 1.5C isn't safe and we're not all safe with a rise of 1.1C.
What are we going to tell the next generation about how we wrecked the climate?
A government response has been sought.
