London  - Britain will sign up to a legally-binding pledge to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent by 2050, compared with 1990 levels, raising the target from an earlier 60 per cent, Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband announced Thursday.

He said the move would make Britain the first country in the world to commit to such far-reaching cuts in the production of carbon dioxide and other gases blamed for global warming.

Miliband said the government was following recommendations from a government-appointed climate change committee which last week suggested that Britain should raise its target from 60 to
80 per cent.

The commission said the target needed to be tightened because new information suggested climate change was happening more quickly and the dangers were greater than previously thought. (dpa)