The renewable energy most favoured with 94% support among those questioned, was offshore wind. 81% support onshore wind and 94% support for solar energy – this compares to 2.2% for coal energy.

The report from the Department of Energy and Climate Change’s (DECC) Youth Advisory Panel calls for greater youth consultation on energy and climate change policy and for young people to get involved.

The report was drafted by young people aged between 16 and 25 who visited power stations, nuclear plants and projects promoting renewable energy sources to investigate the issues at first hand and met with experts, industry, pressure groups and innovators, to look at how we keep the lights on in 2050 while reducing carbon emissions.

The report says while it is important that there is enough energy to go around, it would be irresponsible for us to only focus on providing energy to keep living the same way as we are today.

Above all the report calls for:

• A fair deal for young people in the decision-making process;
• Actively work hard to ensure that Government does not lock young and future generations into ecological debt;
• Continue engaging in dialogue with the youth constituency and stakeholdership to ensure that the youth perspective is heard, and responded to, by Government.

Youth Panel Member Tom Youngman, 17, Bath, from Eco-Schools and a Green Flag School says: "While we may not be able to offer a new technological insight, the decision to pursue any particular technology will define our future, and as young people we have the opportunity to view these long-term decisions with a much increased sense of urgency and tangibility.

“We do not want to inherit a diminished planet, as it often seems we are being asked to, and this is a huge step towards ensuring a sustainable and equitable future for our and subsequent generations."