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EU 'must lead' on carbon

Europe should lead the world in moving to a low-carbon economy, foreign secretary David Miliband has said.

In a speech at the London School of Economics in London, he said it behoved the 27-nation trading bloc to counter the ‘resource crunch’ which has sent fuel and food prices soaring in the past year,

Switching to renewable and nuclear energy could help the world become less reliant on fuel rich but democracy poor regimes.

The search for 'carbon independence' could further secure the EU, he said, adding: "We are stronger if the EU speaks with one voice, engages multi-laterally rather than bilaterally."

"Europe's goal should be to drive not just a low-carbon transition in Europe but beyond - using regulation, markets and negotiating positions that set the global benchmark."

Tony Juniper, executive director of Friends of the Earth, said: "The foreign secretary has set out a cogent analysis of some of the most important challenges facing the international community in the years ahead."

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