Environment secretary David Miliband will today proffer his vision of a 'post-oil economy' era in the UK.
Speaking at the University of Cambridge, he will argue for a low carbon economy and radical cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.
Mr Miliband will make the case for new technologies such as carbon capture at coal power stations, and more use of biofuels and electric cars.
"Al Gore says climate change is a planetary emergency. It is," he is set to say.
"But it is more than that. It is a humanitarian emergency - a threat to the security and survival of people, not just nature.
"The time is right to look at what it would mean for the UK over the period of 15 to 20 years to create a post-oil economy - a declaration less of 'oil independence' and more the end of oil dependence."
He will argue for a radical political consensus across the board.
"We need political leadership at a local, national and European level prepared to make bold, long term, decisions," he will say.
"It is clear finally that if we carry on with business as usual, with more countries growing in wealth and population, the stock of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere will increase dramatically, with catastrophic consequences."
His speech comes ahead of the publication of a draft climate change bill next week and after MPs last week said Britain needed to redouble efforts to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 60 per cent by 2050.
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