The Berwick member, whose constituency covers part of Castle Morpeth, is one of 250 MPs to sign a Parliamentary Early Day Motion calling on the government to toughen up its Climate Change Bill.

The Bill is expected to become law by the summer and states that there must be a 60 per cent cut in carbon emissions by 2050.

However, concerns have been raised that the target is not sufficient and should be revised to an 80 per cent reduction, while emissions from international flights should not be ignored.

Friends of the Earth director Tony Juniper said: "We are delighted that Alan Beith MP is supporting calls for a tougher Climate Change Bill.

"This Bill needs targets that are in line with the latest science and it must count all of our carbon emissions, not just some bits.

"Aviation has to be treated like every other industry and its emissions must be in the new legislation from the start.

"It is ludicrous for one industry to be ignored and held apart.

"Having a climate change law that doesn't include our share of international aviation emissions is like having a drink driving law that ignores the effects of whisky."

Mr Beith said he has seen strong support for enhancing the Bill.

"Climate change is the greatest threat facing humanity at the moment and my own constituents have made it clear that they feel this as keenly here as anywhere in the UK and beyond," he said.

"The Climate Change Bill is a bold attempt to address the threat of climate change, but the reality of that threat is that we must reduce all our emissions by the amount dictated by the latest science.

"The advice from top climate scientists and the UN is that we must hit a target of 80 percent reductions by 2050 and include emissions from international aviation and shipping if we are to continue to lead the world in the fight against dangerous climate change."