The scientific community is united in its belief that global warming is a real and present danger. In fact, so pressing is the crisis that it demands dramatic cutbacks in carbon emissions; rising fuel prices are pretty much a given. There is only a handful of swivel-eyed "deniers" who say otherwise.
Or so the story goes. I'm sure the truth is a little different.
If I actually believed this stuff though, I would find it hard not to feel just the tiniest hint of satisfaction at yesterday's article in the Guardian:
World-class research into future sources of green energy is under threat in Britain from an environmental tax designed to boost energy efficiency and drive down carbon emissions, scientists claim.
Some facilities must find hundreds of thousands of pounds to settle their green tax bills, putting jobs and research at risk.
The unexpected impact of the government's carbon reduction commitment (CRC) scheme is so severe that scientists and research funders have lobbied ministers for an exemption to reduce the bills.
Apparently the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy is one of the facilities worst hit, but you have to wonder if this is a luxury with the fate of the planet at stake.