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Cars driving outside the present congestion charging zone will not be affected. Within the congestion charging zone, the highest CO2 emitting cars, which represent just eight percent of cars registered in London, would face the higher £25 charge and lose their entitlement to the residents' discount. Some of the worst examples produce two or three times as much greenhouse gases as the average family car.

The great majority of drivers within the zone would be unaffected and the least polluting vehicles will receive a 100% discount and not pay any congestion charge at all.

The proposals are part of the Mayor's strategy to do everything possible to reduce pollution and London's contribution to climate change - a top priority as the recent catastrophic weather has brought home.

The new charges would be as follows:

• Low-CO2 emitting cars - 100% discount (£0). Includes cars in Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) Bands A and B (less than 120g CO2 per km) which also meet Euro 4 air quality standard
• The majority of cars - VED Bands C, D, E and those in F with emissions up to 225g CO2 per km – will continue to pay exactly the same daily charge as at present - £8
• The highest CO2 emitting cars - VED Band G and equivalent vehicles (above 225g CO2 per km), as well as those registered pre March 2001 with engines larger than 3,000 cc, will pay £25 a day

Transport - excluding aviation - accounts for 22% of London's CO2 emissions, with cars accounting for nearly half of this.

According to a poll conducted by MORI for the Mayor in 2006, 64% of Londoners think the most polluting cars should pay a higher congestion charge.

The consultation will start on 10 August and end on 19 October.

Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone said:
"Londoners are becoming increasingly aware of the need to tackle climate change and this summer's floods were a reminder of the urgency with which we need to reduce C02 emissions. The highest CO2 emitting cars - like some of the so-called Chelsea tractors, high powered sports cars and luxury executive cars - can produce twice as much carbon dioxide emissions as the kind of car driven by the average Londoner.

"By proposing these changes to the congestion charging scheme we are encouraging people to take into account the impact on the environment of their choice of car.

"We are already cleaning up London's fleet of public vehicles through measures like the introduction of hybrid buses. These new proposals will tackle emissions from private vehicles, and ensure that London is leading the way in the fight against catastrophic climate change."