Businesses could face restrictions on the amount of carbon emissions they produce under a plan to combat climate change.

Brighton and Hove City Council is working with academics from the University of Brighton to calculate the amount of greenhouse gases the city generates.

This baseline figure will be used to assess whether or not the city's businesses and individuals are making progress in reducing carbon emissions and to raise awareness about the effects of climate change. The council's action plan, which is still in its early stages, will initially focus on the authority's own activities and emissions.

But a senior councillor has said the baseline could in future be used to draw up targets and restrictions on levels of carbon emissions for the whole city.

Gill Mitchell, chairwoman of the council's environment committee, said: "It's no good talking about these things without enforcing them."

The plan is being developed by the council's sustainability commission, which will discuss progress on Wednesday.

Coun Mitchell said the setting of carbon targets was a long way off and would require approval by the council's policy and resources committee. Restrictions and penalties would require a change in the law. She hoped targets could be in place by next year.

Councillor Keith Taylor, convenor of the Green Party, said: "Climate change is being caused by carbon emissions which are a result of choices individuals make. The effect of doing nothing is to compromise the ability of future generations to live their lives in fulfilling ways."

Sussex Enterprise chief executive Mark Froud said: "Reducing carbon emissions is good for the environment and if businesses think about the amount of waste they produce it will save them money. But changing the behaviour and culture of businesses is not something that can be done in 15 minutes."

Friday, September 2 2005