Mr Hague, quoted on the Conservative Party’s website, was responding to an address made by Margaret Beckett in Berlin, in which the Foreign Secretary warned the European Union that it must lead a global push towards new technologies and renewable energy to tackle climate change or risk terrorists seizing on famine, water shortages and failing energy infrastructures to threaten global security.

The former Tory leader and close confidant to current head honcho David Cameron said: “All governments must be looking into the future and planning their role in mitigating the effects of climate change. However, the governments of developed nations must lead the way. We must show our commitment and set a standard for other countries to step up to as they can.”

He added: “It is for this reason that we need an international system which recognises and rewards environmental protection. The Conservative Quality of Life Group is looking into Forestry Credits, whereby the industrialised world could pay less prosperous countries to protect the vital global resource in their care. We also need to develop an international emissions trading scheme, which would allow developing countries a fair share of fossil fuels whilst rewarding those countries which develop clean technology.

The MP, who was recently revealed as the highest paid politician in Westminster, went on to say that all the UK must lead by example and put its own house in order first and that the inclusion of the Climate Change Bill in the next session of Parliament would be a good start.