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The speech touched on the full range of environmental topics from climate change to plastic bags and wind farms.

On climate change, the Prime Minister said that climate change was "the product of many generations, but overcoming it must be the great project of this generation."  Looking back at how the Marshall Plan brought a sense of unity to rebuild Europe, the Prime Minister went on to say that the "entire community of nations" needs to be involved.

Referring to the recent IPCC report's prediction for the next 100 years, the Prime Minister said that global warming of 4°C would be a "catastrophe" that "would also be the most terrible injustice."  He also draw attention to the effects that are already being seen in the poorest countries who "are already suffering its worst effects."

Speaking of the cost of addressing global warming, the Prime Minister said:
"The issue is not, as some would have it: can we afford to do more. The now undeniable reality is that we cannot afford to accept any less."

The Government has committed itself to cutton CO2 emissions by 60% by 2050.  The Prime Minister acknowledged that this may not be enough, saying that the committee on climate change will be asked to advise the Government "whether our own domestic target should be tightened up to 80 percent."  A move that David Nussbaum, WWF's Chief Executive, earlier called for: "The proposed 60% reduction was based on old science; we should be committing to 80%."

Energy Efficiency
Tackling the "result of still relying on the technologies, and the mindset, of the past" the Prime Minister said that "Our second imperative is a major improvement in our energy efficiency."

Referring to the King Report on vehicle technology, the Prime Minister announced that "Britain will now press for a second, ambitious EU target of 100 grammes per kilometre by 2020", down from the proposed 130 g/km by 2012.

On housing, the Prime Minister said that all new homes by 2016 will have to be zero-carbon.  Mr Brown said that Government schemes had insulated over 2 million homes since 2001.

He said:
"I can announce that 5 million more homes will benefit from discounted or free loft and cavity wall insulation, and another 3 million from discounted or free low energy light bulbs and energy efficient appliances."

Adding that over the next 10 years smart meters will be offered to every household.  With a smart meter it is possible to more easily monitor how much energy is used.

Waste
Currently 13 billion single-use carrier bags are distributed. The Prime Minister expressed a desire to eliminate single-use bags in favour of long-lasting bags.  To this end he announced that he would "convene a forum of the supermarkets, the British Retail Consortium and other interested groups to urgently assess together how, and how quickly, this reduction can be achieved."

Low Carbon Energy
Mr Brown admitted that the United Kingdom will only meet its global greenhouse gas targets by 2050 if "virtually all energy for electricity and most of the energy used for heating, cooling and transport" comes from low carbon sources.  In order to do this "we must start this technological transformation now."

He reiterated the Government's view that "that it would be in the public interest to give energy companies the option of building new nuclear power stations."  A stance strongly rejected by environmental groups.  He added that he believed that "carbon capture and storage will be a vital new technology in reducing carbon emissions around the world."

The Prime Minister announced a competition to build "one of the world's first commercial CCS coal projects, demonstrating the full chain of CO2 capture, transport and storage."  He added: "We will also consider whether, if we can show that carbon capture and storage is technologically and commercially viable, it should be made mandatory in some form for all new British fossil fuel plants."

As for renewable energy, the Prime Minister said that the Government plans to "increase the capacity of offshore windfarms from less than half a gigawatt now to 8 gigawatts", with new projects to be announced soon.

The Prime Minister also indicated that the Government would investigate the possibility of relying less on the national grid in favour of locally produced Heat and Power installations, which is far more efficient than separate generation.

Transport
On biofuels, the Prime Minister said that he would "not support an increase in biofuels over current target levels until an effective standard is in place."

He said:
"I take extremely seriously concerns about the impact of biofuels on deforestation, precious habitats and on food security. The UK is working to ensure a European sustainability standard is introduced as soon as possible."

Earlier, David Nussbaum, WWF's Chief Executive, warned that every passing month the issue of climate change became more pressing. "As the world's first industrialised country, there is a moral imperative, based on a sense of justice and equity, that we should be taking a lead to show that new technology and new industry, can be delivered and needn't cost the earth". But he sensed a "reluctance in the corridors of Whitehall to commit to the action required, preferring instead to wait for the international cavalry to come over the hill. We need credible mechanisms for delivery, which are followed through with tenacity, right across government."