The draft Climate Change Bill introduced by Environment Secretary David Miliband calls for an independent panel to set a “carbon budget” every five years. Opposition parties welcomed the proposals, but said carbon budgets should be set annually.

Miliband, who hailed the move as “the first of its kind in any country,” said annual targets would be too rigid to make allowances for climate variations.

The draft legislation will go to public and parliamentary consultation before becoming law next year, but environmental campaigners want to raise the 2050 target to 80% and set annual 3% cut targets to ensure compliance.