Farming bosses have expressed disappointment at a government decision to effectively block a Private Members Bill designed to help combat climate change.

The National Farmers’ Union together with Friends of the Earth and nearly 200 cross party MPs from around the UK called for new legislation to promote the use of renewable heat energy in the fight against global warming.

The Renewable Heat Obligation Bill was to be debated this week and coincided with the start of the UK hosted G8 summit, where Tony Blair identified combating global climate change as a key international issue.

The bill was aimed to encourage public facilities like hospitals and schools and private developments to utilise renewable energy heating systems fuelled by renewable sources including biomass, solar power and ground heat. It would have allowed energy suppliers to either invest in their own supplies of renewable heat energy or buy in `credits' from companies that specialise in the technology.

NFU deputy president, Peter Kendall said: "On the one hand the government is challenging the world to tackle climate change, while on the other they block domestic measures to support renewable energy.

“UK carbon dioxide levels actually rose in 2003 by 1.5%, and yet we see no coherent strategy to tackle this increase.

"No one is more aware than farmers of the very real effects of climate change and UK agriculture is eager to help tackle this global problem through supplying carbon neutral biofuels for transport, and biomass for heat and electricity."

The NFU and Friends of the Earth are seeking a meeting with energy minister, Mike O'Brien, at the earliest opportunity to express concerns and seek some clarification and explanation of the apparent lack of government consistency on climate change.