He is concerned only that proposals to decarbonise the economy should add up.

ECONOMIST: What to do?

But the government's chief energy scientist, David MacKay, has warned that the UK would need to increase its nuclear fleet four-fold or its wind energy 20-fold to decarbonise heavy industry.

BBC: UK shale gas bonanza 'not assured'

He is following a lead set by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, who was first to break with the political spin that it was possible to decarbonise the economy without putting up prices.

BBC: Climate deal in peril, says Brown

Until the day when the world can supply its colossal energy needs with 100% renewable energy, we need to decarbonise existing fossil-fuel power production, and CCS is a vital part of the carbon abatement strategy.

ECONOMIST: The benefits of CCS