John Prescott slams 'nimby' councils

He criticised people who opposed wind turbines being set up near their homes and planning committees who uphold their objections.

Mr Prescott announced the inaugural Age Of Stupid awards - named after a hard-hitting environmental film which criticises those who fail to act on climate change - were 'won' by planners in Bedford and the Isle of Wight.

Launching a new environmental campaign ahead of this year's Copenhagen conference on climate change, he said planners in Bedford had repeatedly rejected an application by wind farm developer Piers Guy, although he had cut the number of turbines from 15 to nine to three.

Mr Prescott said the latest decision was a "disgrace" and added: "The first Age of Stupid award goes to Bedford, which follows the Isle of Wight - even when there were many people employed, they'd refused to have it.

"Stupid planning committee in Bedford, stupid planning committee in the Isle of Wight - I hope they get upset about it.

"We have to counteract the nimbys who say they want change, but not in their backyard."

Mr Prescott said opposition forces were gathering against an international climate change agreement being reached in Copenhagen.

"If you switch on the TV, there is a massive campaign in the American oil companies against any agreement whatsoever.

"At Kyoto we managed to get an agreement. I am pleased to say that Britain is one of the four countries only out of the EU 15 that has achieved its Kyoto targets."

He added: "Two thirds of applications for wind turbines are being turned down by councils.

"The opposition forces are beginning to develop."

Mr Prescott, the Council of Europe "rapporteur" on climate change, and a Kyoto protocol negotiator, was taking part in East London in a new climate change campaign called New Earth Deal.

It is designed to put pressure on negotiators when they meet in Copenhagen, and it will include a Road to Copenhagen Climate Change Conference to be held at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France in September.

Mr Prescott said it was very important that a low carbon economy was developed around the world and said some form of carbon rationing would be necessary at some point.

He warned: "Securing a deal at Copenhagen will be 10 times more difficult than Kyoto.

"Social justice and the reduction of poverty must be at the very heart of any agreement. It also means equalising greenhouse emissions per head in each country.

"The climate change we are experiencing across the world has been caused by the richer developed countries. They must now recognise the central principle that the polluter pays.

"Failure is not an option in Copenhagen and that's why our Europe-wide campaign will be galvanised in public opinion to lobby governments to make that deal. "