Dimas told the Bild am Sonntag newspaper, in an interview to be published on Sunday, that Germany must "be aware of its responsibility and its position as a role model in the fight against climate change."

Germany, which currently holds the presidency of the European Union, has said the environment is one of its priorities.

Yet it opposes a number of recent proposals by the European Commission -- the EU's executive arm -- to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, including plans to cut carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from new cars and impose an emissions quota for the period 2008-2012.

The interview comes in a week which saw the publication of a stark report on global warming from United Nations scientists.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) -- the UN's paramount authority on global warming -- said fossil fuel pollution would raise temperatures this century, worsen floods, droughts and hurricanes, melt polar ice and damage the climate system for a thousand years to come.

"If Germany drags its feet, the rest of Europe will do the same," Dimas said. "And if Europe doesn't take part, then the world won't either. In that case, we might as well all pack our bags."

The commissioner said other European nations, such as Britain and Sweden, were close to achieving their targets for curbing emissions of greenhouse gases under the Kyoto Protocol on global warming. Yet "others hide behind Germany's example."

EU proposals to reduce CO2 emissions are not popular in Germany whose auto industry is a pillar of the economy.

In a separate interview in the same newspaper which also touched on climate change, German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for a coordinated international effort to tackle emissions.

"We need to act in a concerted international manner. The European Union must act in this way to reduce emmissions of CO2 by 30 percent by 2020. We're going to propose first 20 percent and propose 30 percent if countries such as the United States do likewise," she told the paper.

In comments on an issue raised recently by Germany's environment agency, she said she was opposed to a general speed limit being imposed on motorways to help the country meet its targets.

"I don't think the question of a general speed limit arises. Lots of motorways have limits and lane controls. These contribute to the fight against global warming," she told the paper.

The German environment agency recently called for a debate on speed limits on Germany's autobahns. Though some have restrictions many have no top speed limit at all. Cutting car speed would reduce emissions.

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