Ananova:

High-energy lightbulb sales are to be switched off by 2011.

Environment Secretary Hilary Benn gave the news as he said he wanted to see the energy wasting bulbs start to disappear from the shelves in January.

Retailers, energy suppliers and lighting manufacturers were taking part in the voluntary move, Mr Benn said.

The move would save five million tonnes of CO2 per year from 2011, he said.

"The major retailers and energy suppliers are now leading a voluntary initiative, with the strong support of the lighting industry and the Government, to help phase out traditional high-energy light bulbs.

"We need to turn them off - for good."

The Climate Change Bill would make Britain the "first country in the world to put carbon reduction targets into law", he said.

The Government would review whether Britain should have a tougher target than its aim of a 60% reduction by 2050.

He wanted to see Britain recycling and composting 40% of waste in three years time, 15% of electricity generation to come from renewables in eight years and new homes being built to be zero carbon.

Greenpeace welcomed the news saying the "long overdue" announcement would help cut CO2 emissions.

However, it pointed out, most retailers had already agreed to remove the bulbs following their own campaign.