New research paints a bleak picture of the UK in 2050 if action is not taken now to cut carbon dioxide emissions.

The research _ commissioned by the Energy Saving Trust, the UK's leading organisation set up to help people fight climate change _ finds that more than four in 10 Brits (41 per cent) think the UK will need its own Carbon Police Force.

A quarter of Brits also believes the worst environmental offenders will be forced to go to energy rehab and take energy addiction classes while 62 per cent think that by 2050 the Government will enforce tough laws to make Brits reach environmental targets.

The survey of 2,159 people across the UK was commissioned as part of the Energy Saving Trust's report Emission Impossible? A vision for a low carbon lifestyle by 2050.

In it, the independent environmental organisation outlines the major steps that need to be taken for the UK to reduce its carbon emissions by up to 80 per cent by 2050. The report shows that if we take simple actions now we can meet long term carbon reduction targets without damaging our quality of life.

These include carbon-cutting measures which address: the way our homes are built; the source of energy we use; the product choices we make; how we travel; our day-to-day behaviour; our use of water; how we use resources and deal with waste.

Chief executive Philip Sellwood said: The UK's perception is that by 2050 we could have the sort of draconian infringements on our civil liberties that have been highlighted in our research. This need not be the case.

"The carbon emissions we all produce from our homes and travel amount to over 40 per cent of the UK's total emissions so we all have a part to play.

"Our report outlines the Energy Saving Trust's vision for achieving a low-carbon lifestyle by 2050 where we meet our 80 per cent reduction targets without adopting austere lifestyles or making unpleasant personal sacrifices."

Emission Impossible? is found at www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/emissionimpossible .