Combined with explicit pressure from Donald Trump – who has already called Labour’s shift away from North Sea oil and gas a “very big mistake” – this shift could ramp up pressure on Labour. Keir Starmer has already proved himself willing to jettison key climate measures, with a high-profile U-turn on a promise to invest £28bin in green projects every year.

“Having Trump in the White House basically makes an already desperate climate situation worse,” says Chris Aylett, a research associate at Chatham House’s environment and society centre. Trump’s opposition to wind power is long-standing, potentially dating back to concerns over his ocean-side Scottish golf course, says Aylett, and his 2017 appointment of Rex Tillerson saw an oil executive elevated to secretary of state.

“It gives the opponents of climate policy in the UK a new angle to attack the government,” Complaints couched in concern for the countryside can now be put forward out of concern for alienating an ally, Aylett says.

“It’s going to be a huge test of the political courage of the new government. They’ve got a huge Commons majority but they’ve had plummeting support from the public – this is a good test to see if they’re going to pursue what they said they’d pursue, while they’ve got an American president piling pressure on what is already a difficult task,” says Aylett. “What’s going to be interesting to see is whether Ed Miliband survives in his role.”

Trump’s influence should also push the UK to have a louder voice internationally, said Alethea Warrington, head of energy, heat, and aviation at climate charity Possible.

“The changing international political environment also makes it even more vital for the new UK government to continue to step up to play a leading role in international climate discussions, and prevent Trump from harming the international consensus on decarbonisation that’s essential if we are to achieve a safer future for all of us.”

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