There is little point spending time wringing our hands over the missed opportunities at Copenhagen. There is work to do and we must get on with it. Although a legally binding treaty was probably over ambitious, we certainly came out with less than most people hoped for.

There were bits of good news: the British position, backed by the European Union, was widely praised for showing leadership and determination. Gordon Brown and Ed Miliband did a good job. I knew they would, not least because I had an hour’s conversation about climate change with a dozen colleagues and Gordon the night before he went to Copenhagen.

It is also reassuring that the world’s biggest emitter of carbon dioxide (USA) and the four fastest growing economies reached some common understanding of the need to seriously limit emissions. Hopefully figures and targets will be added to this soon.

Crucially, Britain’s suggestion of a 0 Bn fund to help smaller developing countries find green paths to prosperity was agreed. Ever since I worked in the International Development department I have argued passionately that countries like us, which grew rich on the back of 200 years of carbon-based energy, need to compensate others if we oblige them to take a different route.

There will be opportunities for British innovation and technology, green jobs and greater local production of green energy in our communities. There are many excellent examples to follow here in High Peak. It was fitting that Amy Mount, a student from the Hope Valley, attended the Copenhagen summit officially and reported her concerns daily to the internet world.

May I wish everyone ‘Season’s Greetings,’ especially those workers and volunteers whose occupation takes them away from their families at Christmas, as soldiers, rescue workers, postal staff, hospital and power workers and other providers of public services.