Environment adviser attacks Brown

Jonathon Porritt, chairman of the Government's Sustainable Environment Commission, accused the Prime Minister of making "soaring speeches" about global warming but failing to match his words with deeds.

Mr Brown had repeatedly claimed Britain must be a world leader on climate change, only to steer clear of substantial green taxes, he said.

"Within a few days of a speech like that we have an opportunity to demonstrate leadership in the world which ends with a demonstration of what has to be described as crabby incrementalism," he said, apparently referring to Monday's Pre-Budget Report.

"A little bit here, a little bit there, without actually sending a signal to citizens in the UK that this is indeed now the most serious problem we have to deal with.

"We have to use the tax and expenditure systems in this country to address this."

Chancellor Alistair Darling used the PBR to copy the Tories' policy of switching air duty so that it is charged per flight rather than per passenger.

This is expected to encourage airlines to fly more efficiently as an aeroplane carrying no passengers would be charged the same as one that was full.

But Lord Porritt said the political leadership on display in Britain was "incredibly inconsistent" and had not gone far enough.

"I think that what we are seeing at the moment is so woefully falling short of what could be done, we are nowhere near the pain barrier," he said.