The Labour Government's new National Strategy for Climate and Energy sets out a path to a low-carbon economy, making Britain a cleaner, greener and more prosperous place to live.

By leading the world in low carbon industry, technology and energy, Britain can be reap the benefits - Labour's plans will see 1.2 million people employed in green jobs by 2015. Labour also plans to make 'going green' pay for people - cash back for locally produced green energy, pay-as-you-save home refurbishments and smart energy meters will all help shave hundreds of pounds off bills for green households.

While Labour is committed to seizing this opportunity, the Tories' attempts to change their image using green rhetoric and photo opportunities have fallen flat - they routinely oppose new wind power, have flip-flopped on nuclear and opposed the new planning laws brought forward by Labour which will help make new low carbon energy a reality.

Labour’s Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband said:

“The UK was the first country in the world to legislate for carbon budgets. It was a dramatic change in approach. This is a transition plan for Britain, a route-map to 2020, with carbon savings expected across every sector and a carbon budget assigned to every government department alongside its financial budget.

“Renewables, nuclear and clean fossil fuels are the trinity of low carbon and the future of energy in Britain. Under our plans we will get 40% of our electricity from low carbon energy by 2020 and more in the years afterwards.

“Our plan will strengthen our energy security, it seeks to be fair to the most vulnerable, it seizes industrial opportunity and it rises to the moral challenge of climate change.

“In five months, the world must come together at Copenhagen and follow through on the commitment of world leaders last week to stop dangerous climate change. Today we have shown how Britain will play its part.”

Ed Miliband also announced new proposals to protect the vulnerable from excessive energy prices and fuel poverty, with compulsory discounts on bills for some of those on the lowest incomes.