Organisers said 10,000 people took part in the colourful procession to the Houses of Parliament, which coincided with a meeting of 192 nations in Poznan, Poland, to draft a new international climate change treaty.

Kate Tansley, of the march organisers Campaign against Climate Change, said the protest highlighted four issues, including a call for plans to build a third runway at London's Heathrow airport, one of the world's busiest, to be scrapped.

She said: "There are four 'no' issues and one 'yes' one.

"These are no to a third runway at Heathrow and the general expansion of aviation, no to coal, and no to agro-fuels," she said, referring to biofuels.

"It's good to have a more positive message though, and that is yes to investment in renewable energy and all the green jobs that it would bring."

The protesters came on bicycles and on foot, carrying placards and banners.

Student Jon Roberts, 26, said: "The turnout today shows the government how many people care about energy issues in this country and are aware of the impact it is having around the world.

"I really hope the government takes more action on energy. There may be bills and proposals to combat climate change but they need to actually do something to enforce them."

The Poznan meeting aims to lay the groundwork for a "shared vision" on how to broaden the fight against climate change after the first set of commitments made by industrialised nations under the Kyoto Protocol expire in 2012.

A new climate change treaty is scheduled for completion by December next year, although the global economic slowdown has made already delicate negotiations even more difficult.

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