REBECCA Pow is the MP for Taunton Deane and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Minister for Nature Recovery and the Domestic Environment).

In 2015, she became the 379th women to be elected to Parliament.

A scientist by training, a former BBC, ITV and C4 reporter, specialising in the environment, farming, and gardening, Ms Pow has also worked for the National Farmers Union.

She said: "Having worked in the areas of agriculture and the environment for all of my career I have made this a focal point in my work in Parliament (aside of course from representing Taunton Deane in every way.) As a back bencher I worked to bring about the ban on micro plastic beads in care products, to secure extra protection for ancient woodland and to get soil onto the agenda. And now in my capacity as Environment Minister I have been responsible for the Environment Act which will set us on a sustainable trajectory for the future. I have worked with some superb women on this journey and if we are to tackle the tough climate change challenges facing us women will play an increasingly pivotal role.

"Around the world, 80% of people displaced by climate change are women. Given the enormous impact this is having on women we need to do more to make sure that greater numbers of women are involved in leading our fight against climate change and improving the environment.

"We must make sure that women and girls from parts of the world that are most affected by climate change can express their priorities and concerns on an equal basis. We need to empower them to adapt and build resilience to the impacts of climate change. Measures like early warning systems for storms, improved flood drainage and drought-resistant crops will save the lives and livelihoods of women around the globe.

"Championing women’s roles as decision-makers, educators and climate leaders is vital if we are going to deliver effective, long-term solutions to climate change. Just last year, the UK led the world at COP26. I was inspired by the many women and girls I met there including Roxana Borda Mamani from Peru, who spoke movingly on the need to empower indigenous peoples and local communities.

"At COP26, we really won the argument on the importance of nature-based solutions and the need to back them. Women are so well-placed to take this argument to their local communities and make a real difference.

"Here in the UK, as the Environment Minister I was proud to steer our world leading Environment Act through Parliament, a two-year process involving hundreds of officials many of them women. This legislation gives us the tools and the momentum to really put nature on the road to recovery during this decade. Through the Act, we will clean up the country’s air, restore natural habitats, increase biodiversity, reduce waste and make better use of our resources. Crucially, it will halt the decline in species by 2030, helping to reverse declines of iconic British species like the hedgehog, red squirrel and water vole.

"The Act also puts protecting the environment at the heart of future policy. I am particularly pleased with measures to crack down on water companies that discharge sewage into rivers, waterways and coastlines. In addition, we are the very first government to set out, via Government’s Strategic Policy Statement to Ofwat, the water regulator, our expectation that water companies must act to reduce the harm caused by storm sewage overflows. This has also been put onto a legislative footing and believe me, where they don’t act, we will be taking action against them.

"I have worked with some brilliant women on this vital agenda – including the many Defra officials and my fellow ministers, Chair of the Environment Agency Emma Howard Boyd, Natural England Chief Executive Marian Spain, NFU President Minette Batters, Hilary McGrady at the National Trust, and Tanya Steel at WWF.

"We have hit the ground running. We have already banned the sale of plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds, increased the plastic bag charge to 10p and extended it to all retailers and launched a consultation on banning single use plastic cutlery, plates and polystyrene cups. We have also launched a call for evidence on other problematic single use plastics – including wet wipes, which is something I am particularly passionate about.

"We are making good progress with our agricultural transition too - with many women driving work to produce sustainable food in a healthy environment. On top of the farming funds, we have also allocated £720m through the Nature for Climate Fund for tree planting and peat restoration as well as the Green Recovery Challenge Funds.

"We want women to be at the heart of delivering the many vital schemes stimulated by these funds, as we build on what we achieved at COP26 and continue to work to implement our Environment Act at home and I am proud to be part of this exciting and necessary agenda something I have worked towards for the whole of my working life."