Labour’s “Green Plan” has been launched today, nine years to the day from David Cameron’s infamous husky-hugging trip to the Arctic.

However since then, the mask has slipped, and we’ve seen a record of Tory failure. David Cameron appointed Owen Paterson, who has repeatedly questioned the existence of climate change, as Environment Secretary. He ignored the advice of the Committee on Climate Change and the Tories (backed by the Lib Dems – including my Lib Dem opponent here in Cambridge) even tried to sell off the nation’s forests.

It’s clear there is an urgent need for a Labour Government again that will put protecting our environment at the heart of our agenda. Building on the commitments in our manifesto, Labour’s “Green Plan” includes:

• Setting a legally binding target to decarbonise our electricity supply by 2030.

• Delivering energy efficiency upgrades to at least five million homes over ten years.

• Creating a million new green jobs by 2025.

• Giving the Green Investment Bank borrowing powers.

• Developing a 25 year plan for the recovery of nature with clear five year milestones to measure progress.

Daniel Zeichner said: “Within months of the General Election, the UN Paris summit will take place to agree a binding global agreement to tackle climate change. Labour’s Green Plan gives us real confidence that a Labour Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change will be able to show Britain is leading the world again on Climate Change and use this summit to champion increased climate ambition from all the world’s major economies.”