The Government is expanding the “Blue Belt” of marine protected areas around the UK. It also appears that the Agriculture Bill will place the environment centre stage, particularly focused on soil fertility depletion – a hidden risk factor to food productivity.

The political stars are more aligned for a greener agenda, too. The mood in No 10 has changed since the election; Philip Hammond has always been a strong advocate of the green economy, and the relationship that appears to be bearing the greatest political traction is between Defra and the Business Department, with Claire Perry and Greg Clark totally committed to a focus on clean energy at the latter.

There is still work to be done, and Conservative instincts can help. Waste will be one of the thornier issues for Gove, with a need to reframe the debate around what we lose by throwing so much away. Recycling and waste management – an £11 billion-a-year industry – is an enormous untapped opportunity, and re-using more could pay financial dividends, as well as improve the environment.

We’re not there yet on air pollution, either. A healthy environment means healthy people and normally delivers an even healthier economy.

But although the party has a long way to go before we are totally trusted with the environment, it is this refreshed vision, underpinned by Tory environmental values and increased political clout, that is shaping a much more optimistic, proactive agenda to green and clean our policies, wherever they sit in Government.

Laura Sandys is chairman of the Food Foundation and a former Conservative MP