Richmond upon Thames in south west London, one of Britain's most affluent boroughs, is leading the shift to so-called green taxes and has drawn up a plan to introduce financial rewards and penalties for residents' parking permits.

Under the plan owners of cars with the highest carbon dioxide emission would be charged up to three times more. Households would be charged an extra 50 per cent for permits on second and subsequent cars on top of the new costs.

An owner of two Jaguars would be charged £750 a year for residents' parking - £300 for the first car and £450 for the second - compared to £200 that they pay now.

However, people who use an electric car would pay nothing to park while others driving less polluting cars would qualify for a reduction of up to 50 per cent of the cost.

The move to green taxes has been raised on a national level by the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats but it is the first time policies have been planned at a local level.

The scheme is similar to plans by London Mayor Ken Livingstone who wants to increase the capital's congestion charge for drivers of large Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) to as much as £25 a day. Likewise, Mr Livingstone's proposals include a reduction in the current £8 a day charge for motorists with cleaner vehicles.

In August a poll of Londoners found that over two-thirds of people backed the plans in a bid to discourage the use of 4x4s, also called "Chelsea Tractors" by critics of the upmarket London district where they are especially popular.

Serge Lourie, leader of Richmond upon Thames's Liberal Democrat-controlled council, said: "Climate change is the single greatest challenge facing the world today. We can no longer bury our heads in the sand and pretend that it is not happening, or that dealing with it is up to somebody else.

"And Richmond upon Thames is one of the highest CO2-emitting boroughs in London.

"For too long, it has been seen as a problem that only central governments or international organisations could address. The truth is that we must all start acting now at local level."

The proposals are due to be considered by the council's cabinet on November 6 and, if implemented, would be the first such scheme in the country.

They are certain to have a mixed response from Richmond's residents, but one who is in favour is the former host of University Challenge Bamber Gascoigne, who said today he was "very keen" on the scheme. Mr Gascoigne said he drove an electric G-Whiz car, which will be in the lowest band and will be able to park free.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We've got to do something about global warming. I think it's the sort of direction everybody is going to have to go. I think Richmond is the leader."

Mr Livingstone said: "I congratulate Richmond on this decision. Climate change is the biggest threat that we are facing and transport in London contributes 21% of our carbon emissions.

"London has established itself as the only major city in the world where people are shifting from cars to public transport, cycling and walking and I have asked Transport for London to look at a higher level of the congestion charge to discourage gas-guzzling cars like the larger 4x4s."

The proposal has been met with opposition from motoring groups and Tony Arbour, London Assembly Conservative member for South West London, who claimed it amounted to a "stealth tax".

Mr Arbour said: "If this council's leaders were serious about curbing car use, then they should withdraw subsidies and remove the car parking spaces they make available to council staff.

"As it stands, this is just another revenue raising exercise."

Sheila Rainger, spokeswoman for the RAC Foundation, said: "We are in favour of encouraging people to choose greener, more efficient cars but we'd much rather see incentives than penalties." She said that Westminster council's policy of giving free parking to electric cars would encourage greener drivers.