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Greenpeace executive director Stephen Tindale said:

"This budget may be the first sign that we're about to get a Prime Minister who acts on climate change instead of just talking about it. Many of these measures will make a difference if properly implemented, though the real test for Brown comes next month when the government has to decide how much carbon British industry is allowed to emit.

"The measures on energy efficiency and microgeneration are very positive and will help bring forward low-carbon buildings and a decentralised energy system. The key decisions on this, however, will be made in the energy review, where the Prime Minister's obsession with all things nuclear still threatens to derail progress towards safer, cleaner and cheaper energy.

"The creation of a new top rate of road tax is the right way to go, but the Chancellor must know that £210 is far too little money to stop anyone buying a gas guzzler. The country would have been behind him if he'd slapped punitive taxes on these vehicles, some of which pump out three times their own weight in carbon every year, but the Chancellor stalled. We will continue to press him to increase the top rate to £1,800, which even the government's own advisers say is necessary.

"Greenpeace welcomes the Chancellor's commitment to strengthen the European emissions trading system. We'll see whether Brown, unlike Blair, follows rhetoric with action when the Government publishes its plans for the next stage of emissions trading before Easter."

For interviews and more information contact Greenpeace on 0207 865 8255

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Greenpeace is urging Gordon Brown to use this year's budget to tackle climate change by supporting energy efficiency, ending fuel poverty and increasing taxes on petrol, inefficient vehicles such as SUVs and aviation.

Ahead of the Chancellor's pre-budget statement this Thursday, Greenpeace announced the top action points he must implement to confront climate change. They are:

• End fuel poverty and encourage energy efficiency. Set high energy efficiency standards for social housing and provide financial incentives and grants to encourage energy efficiency improvements in existing buildings. Energy efficient buildings should be eligible for reductions in Council Tax and Stamp Duty. In addition, there should be zero VAT on energy efficient products.
  
  
• Make a clear commitment to increase the cost of petrol and diesel. The government needs to send a clear message to car manufacturers and the public that current levels of CO2 emissions and pollution from transport are unacceptable if we are to combat climate change. Revenue raised should be used to improve public transport.
  
  
• Make Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) progressive. VED should be dramatically increased for inefficient vehicles such as SUVs. Incentives should be provided for state-of-the-art fuel efficient vehicles.
  
  
• Tax aviation. Tax aviation fuel and increase air passenger duty (APD) to reflect the true environmental impact of flying.

Stephen Tindale, Greenpeace's Executive Director, said: "By rewarding energy efficiency and increasing taxes on dangerous and polluting forms of transport, Brown can help to combat climate change and end fuel poverty.

"Brown must go green in this year's budget. It's an opportunity to help save thousands of lives."

For more information, contact the Greenpeace press office on 020 7865 8255.