According to the paper, which cited a draft copy of business minister John Hutton's presentation to Brown that it had seen, the prime minister will be told that the target is expensive and faces "severe practical difficulties."

Britain should work with Poland and other governments sceptical of climate change to "help persuade" German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who championed the proposals, and her allies to set lower targets before they are made binding commitments in December.

Hutton's department estimates that it could cost Britain four billion pounds (5.7 billion euros, 8.1 billion dollars) to achieve just a nine percent share of renewables by 2020 -- the target is 20 percent -- from its current level of two percent, The Guardian reported.

Germany, by comparison, has increased its share of renewables to nine percent in the past six years.

The leaked presentation admitted that if Brown were seen to be trying to water down such proposals, Britain could suffer "a potentially significant cost in terms of reduced climate change leadership" and noted that lowering the targets would be "very hard to negotiate ... and will be very controversial."

"The (European) Commission, some member states, and the European parliament will not want the target to be diluted, though others may be allies for a change," the presentation said.

Among the difficulties for Britain in meeting the target will be convincing the defence ministry and the shipping industry to accept additional off-shore wind power, and higher costs for increased research and development into marine and tidal power, Hutton will reportedly tell Brown.

A spokesman for Hutton's department told the newspaper: "We don't comment on ministerial meetings with the PM."

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