| Parties battle over green agenda
hancellor Gordon Brown and Conservative leader David Cameron will battle for leadership of the green agenda as they outline rival visions.
The two men are delivering keynote speeches on climate change in a bid to seize the lead on the environment.
Mr Brown will dismiss the Tories' ability to tackle green issues in the European Union because of the party's euro scepticism.
Mr Cameron will call on the government to set annual emissions targets.
We believe taxation is an extremely blunt instrument in terms of reducing carbon emissions 
The environment is seen as a key electoral battleground for the two men who are expected to lead their parties into the next general election.
The chancellor, speaking in London, will highlight the government's role in setting new European Union standards on carbon dioxide emissions.
He will argue that it is essential to work through bodies such as the European Union to reach international agreements on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
'Targets needed'
Mr Cameron, addressing a Tory Party environmental summit, will challenge the government to set strict annual targets for emissions reduction in its Climate Change Bill, due to be launched on Tuesday.
"Without annual rate of change targets, it's too easy for the timetable to slip," he will say.
"And once it has slipped, it's much harder to make up the difference later."
He will also say that the Climate Change Bill needs teeth and that his party will do all it can to "improve the Bill".
The speeches follow the Tories' launch of a bold package of proposals to tax frequent fliers, which Mr Brown will criticise as "ill-conceived" and "unworkable" measures.
"Changes must be considered, costed, credible and consumer friendly not ill-conceived, short-termist, unworkable and unfair," he will say.
Referring to the Tories' approach to Europe, he will say: "Euro-scepticism and continent-wide environmental action are at odds with each other.
"A government ambivalent about the UK's future in Europe and allied to the most reactionary forces in the European Parliament would have no credibility, no influence and no achievements."
Mr Brown will also set out steps individuals and businesses can take to save energy in their daily lives.
Green credentials questioned
But the Green Alliance, the group hosting Mr Brown's speech, criticised the government's green credentials.
This 'global warming' rubbish is just stuff and nonsense put out as an excuse to raise taxes
The group said the Conservatives' plans for new aviation taxes showed that they were more radical than the government.
The chancellor has also come under pressure from former environment minister and Labour leadership contender Michael Meacher.
Echoing Conservative calls, he urged the government to set binding annual emissions targets as part of the Climate Change Bill.
It must have "an explicit strategy" to deliver 60% cuts by 2050, he said.
"Anything less would be more cosmetic palliatives in the war against climate change."
The government's Climate Change Bill will put the government's long-term goal to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 60% by 2050 into statute.
However, the Bill does not include plans for strict annual targets for emissions reductions, as demanded by the Tories.
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