Environment Secretary Liz Truss welcomed the Pope’s call for action on climate change yesterday — on the same day that her Tory government announced the axing of subsidies for renewable energy.

And in a further embarrassing blow to the government, its plan to axe subsidies for windfarms may face legal action north of the border as it could impact disproportionately on Scotland, where many of the farms were due to be built.

In his first papal encyclical — a high-level declaration — Pope Francis warned of the urgent need to tackle “extraordinary climate change and an unprecedented destruction of ecosystems.” He said climate change was mostly down to human activity — driven by rampant capitalism. He said policies were urgently needed to cut carbon emissions, including reducing fossil fuels and developing renewables.