The science of climate change is clear, despite those leaked UEA emails. The technology to tackle the problem either exists, or is on its way. Now we need to handle the finance. That’s why putting a price on carbon was the most important negotiating point at the Copenhagen summit. It’s also why the next government needs to consider a radical new step: parachuting climate scientists and energy technologists into the Bank of England.

Post-Copenhagen, the world must work towards a global cap-and-trade scheme, in which all carbon dioxide emitted comes with a paid-for permit. If a country doesn’t control its emissions, it will pay through penalties. But this global scheme must also be underpinned by new, innovative national measures. Gordon Brown did well in this regard in 1998 with his “renewables obligation,” requiring power companies to put a rising amount of renewable energy on the grid. With the proceeds he created both the Carbon Trust and the Energy Saving Trust, two independent
bodies that have already proved their mettle in the fight against climate change.

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