MADAM – Chris Harmer (letters, November 19) sets out admirably the main elements of the IPCC report on climate change and its challenges and the vital importance of next year’s UN Climate Change Conference in Paris.

However his letter ignores the significant contribution made by the last Labour government, the policies outlined by Ed Miliband and the fact that this country is likely to be represented at the conference either by a Labour government under Ed Miliband or a Conservative government – with or without a coalition with Ukip – under the present prime minister, whose disdain for green issues has been made abundantly clear.

The first secretary of state for energy and climate change was Ed Miliband.

In 2008 the first Climate Change Act was passed, committing the UK to reducing emissions by at least 80 per cent by 2050.

Labour developed a new approach to environmental policy based on whole ecosystems rather than individual species or habitats, commissioned the world’s first National Ecosystem Assessment, made commitments to reverse the decline of biodiversity by 2020 and committed to make space for nature in every region of the UK.

Sadly the coalition government has abandoned that approach.

Labour also created the first national parks, designated and protected Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and opened up land for public access under the right to roam – and we’ve promised not to sell off our public forests.

And the Labour government invested significantly in flood defence and protection, an investment drastically reduced by the coalition.

In his conference speech Ed Miliband promised: *Support for an ambitious, legally-binding international agreement on climate change at the Paris Conference in 2015.

*Boosting investment in low-carbon technologies by setting a legal target to remove carbon from our electricity supply by 2030.

*Creating one million more high-tech jobs by securing the UK’s position as a world leader in green industries.

*Overhauling the Green Deal and replacing it with a new ‘Energy Save’ scheme.

*A major investment in improving energy efficiency setting up a National Infrastructure Commission *Establishing an independent Energy Security Board modelled on the Office for Budget Responsibility to co-ordinate with government, the National Grid and regulator to set out and implement a timetable for building the energy capacity Britain needs.

*Backing the 2030 decarbonisation target, which the Government has refused to do.

*Strengthening the Green Investment Bank and giving it borrowing powers to enable it to support low carbon industries.

A Labour government can and will tackle the major issue of climate change, the coalition has shown that it is not prepared to do so – that is the choice before the electorate in May 2015.

Dick Greenslade

Rodborough