Michael Gove has attacked Donald Trump over his decision to withdraw the US from the Paris Agreement on climate change, saying the world’s second biggest source of greenhouse gases could not “simply walk out of the room when the heat is on”.

In a speech in which the Environment Secretary promised a “green Brexit”, Mr Gove said he “deeply” regretted the move by the US President, who once described global warming as a “hoax” perpetrated by China.

However he also expressed hope that Mr Trump was reconsidering the decision,

Mr Gove said environmental factors had brought about “collapse or crisis” that destroyed past civilisations “again and again” over history.

He pointed to evidence of new threats posed by “climate change, the build-up of toxins in our soil, air and oceans and the spiralling level of resource consumption, waste generation and demand for energy which all threaten human progress in the future”.

“It is because environmental degradation is such a threat to future prosperity and security that I deeply regret President Trump’s approach towards the Paris Agreement on Climate Change,” Mr Gove said in a speech at environmental charity WWF-UK.

“I sincerely hope the recent indications that the President may be minded to think again do signal a change of heart.

“International co-operation to deal with climate change is critical if we’re to safeguard our planet’s future and the world’s second biggest generator of carbon emissions can’t simply walk out of the room when the heat is on.

“It’s our planet too and America needs to know we can only resolve this problem together.”

He pointed to the “devastating impact climate change can have on societies” described in a book about the 17th century, Global Crisis by Geoffrey Parker.

“Parker charts the collapse of hemispherically dominant regimes from China to Spain and the outbreak of devastating civil wars in the UK and across Europe all driven, or exacerbated, by the resource challenges generated by climate change,” Mr Gove said.

“History teaches us that unless we prepare for these challenges we will be undone.”

WWF-UK’s chief executive, Tanya Steele, welcomed the tone of the Environment Secretary’s remarks about the US withdrawal from the Paris accord.

10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Show all 10 1 /10 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A group of emperor penguins face a crack in the sea ice, near McMurdo Station, Antarctica Kira Morris 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Floods destroyed eight bridges and ruined crops such as wheat, maize and peas in the Karimabad valley in northern Pakistan, a mountainous region with many glaciers. In many parts of the world, glaciers have been in retreat, creating dangerously large lakes that can cause devastating flooding when the banks break. Climate change can also increase rainfall in some areas, while bringing drought to others. Hira Ali 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Smoke – filled with the carbon that is driving climate change – drifts across a field in Colombia. Sandra Rondon 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Amid a flood in Islampur, Jamalpur, Bangladesh, a woman on a raft searches for somewhere dry to take shelter. Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable places in the world to sea level rise, which is expected to make tens of millions of people homeless by 2050. Probal Rashid 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Sindh province in Pakistan has experienced a grim mix of two consequences of climate change. “Because of climate change either we have floods or not enough water to irrigate our crop and feed our animals,” says the photographer. “Picture clearly indicates that the extreme drought makes wide cracks in clay. Crops are very difficult to grow.” Rizwan Dharejo 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Hanna Petursdottir examines a cave inside the Svinafellsjokull glacier in Iceland, which she said had been growing rapidly. Since 2000, the size of glaciers on Iceland has reduced by 12 per cent. Tom Schifanella 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A river once flowed along the depression in the dry earth of this part of Bangladesh, but it has disappeared amid rising temperatures. Abrar Hossain 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A shepherd moves his herd as he looks for green pasture near the village of Sirohi in Rajasthan, northern India. The region has been badly affected by heatwaves and drought, making local people nervous about further predicted increases in temperature. Riddhima Singh Bhati 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A factory in China is shrouded by a haze of air pollution. The World Health Organisation has warned such pollution, much of which is from the fossil fuels that cause climate change, is a “public health emergency”. Leung Ka Wa 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Water levels in reservoirs, like this one in Gers, France, have been getting perilously low in areas across the world affected by drought, forcing authorities to introduce water restrictions. Mahtuf Ikhsan

“We’re pleased that Michael Gove has made clear his, and the Government’s, disappointment at President Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris climate deal and, in doing so, he is reflecting the view of the British people,” she said.

“Climate change is a global issue that affects the future of everyone on our planet; it is essential that the UK steps up to the plate and continues to show leadership.”

Ben Caldecott, an associate fellow at the Conservative think thank Bright Blue, also praised Mr Gove.

“The Secretary of State is absolutely right that we have a unique opportunity to dramatically enhance UK environment policy. The direction and ambition of the Government’s policy is clear and we warmly endorse it, particularly the announcement to ban microbeads and address ocean pollution," he said.