Last month more than 2,000 schoolchildren, students and adults downed pens, left school and gathered in Oxford to make clear their frustration at what they perceive to be a lack of action on climate change from the older generation.

I am proud of the Government's record on addressing climate change.

The UK has played a leading role as the world has worked towards a global deal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the Paris Agreement.

Since 1990, the UK has cut emissions by more than 40 per cent while growing the economy by more than two thirds, the best performance on a per person basis than any other G7 nation.

Britain is firmly on track to meet the 2050 target to reduce emissions of all greenhouse gases by 80 per cent.

The UK is a world leader in clean growth and the Government has invested more than £52bn in renewable energy since 2010.

The Industrial Strategy and Clean Growth Strategy identify and target the huge potential opportunity for the UK from clean growth and transition to low carbon economy, while the National Adaptation Programme 2018-23 sets out a strategy for dealing with the effects of a changing climate.

The Government has also agreed to support and expand offshore wind, and made the historic commitment to close all coal-fired power stations by 2025.

I want young people to be engaged in key issues affecting them and involving themselves in causes they care about, but missing school is not the solution.

In fact, I strongly believe that environmental education is key to preventing further damage to the natural world and that is why centres like the Environmental Education Centre at Sutton Courtenay, run by Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust, are so important. The staff there educate over 8,000 children a year, introducing them to the natural world and how to interact with this country’s flora and fauna in a responsible manner.

I am also encouraged to see the actions that local businesses, such as Greencore Construction, are taking to develop low carbon and environmentally friendly methods of working.

I was delighted to be part of a ceremony last week to mark the completion of Greencore’s development at Kings Farm Close Longcot, where 15 homes have been developed with near-zero carbon footprints thanks to innovative materials and construction techniques.

I look forward to working with other local businesses to rise to this most crucial of challenges.