She goes on to ask what would it take to cut carbon emissions enough to save the planet? The rich world, already anxious about the rise of India and China, will not hold back its own growth, so why should the developing world? Extreme inequality within countries such as the US and UK also makes the obvious solutions difficult: how do you tax energy heavily when the burden falls so unfairly?

She says; “in this convenient climate of political despair, one easy solution steps in smartly. Let's all go nuclear, it's the only way. By pre-arranged plan as soon as the election was over, the nuclear lobby accelerated its campaign.. So far it has been the cabinet's most powerful women - Margaret Beckett and Patricia Hewitt - who have held out against it, with support from three out of four in opinion polls. But climate change is the nuclear lobby's best weapon: only global warming is more dangerous than massive proliferation of nuclear power across the world.

“Today, in his first speech, the new energy minister announces money for tidal power. Malcolm Wicks, long-time social policy thinker, a little perplexed at his sudden transformation from pensions to energy, is, he says, still "open-minded" on the nuclear question.

“He is reassuringly scathing about the nimbys fighting against wind farms. Wind, he says, is the only way that the Kyoto target of 10% renewable energy by 2010 can ever be reached. Instead, he rebuts the myths now so successfully spread by the anti-wind-power lobby and their pro-nuclear supporters.

Toynbee continues : “No turbines are not taking over the country: only some 800 hectares are needed to reach the 10% target. No, they are not unpopular: 80% support them and 66% would like some in their area. No, the intermittent wind dropping is no problem, since the farms are spread far across the county and existing back-up is quite sufficient. (Eyesores? Britain had 90,000 windmills in the 17th century.)

“But these myths are gaining ground, alongside the bigger myth that nothing but nuclear will do. However, the nuclear lobby has to contend with overwhelming public opposition. New stations would take a decade to build at £2bn each. Shortly, Nirex, the nuclear waste disposal company, will publish its 12 proposed sites for a huge new depot: just watch 12 protest groups spring up overnight and they will be a lot louder than the wind nimbys. So it's hard to see this parliament commissioning more nuclear power.

“…the monumental cost of a new nuclear programme would devour all the cash - and far more - needed to develop better alternatives. Meanwhile, wind power prices are already falling to almost the same price as other energy. A British company is building a huge tidal generator plant off the coast of Portugal: today's cash announcement brings a British programme nearer, potentially cheapest of all.

While international carbon trading between companies has only just begun, domestic carbon trading is one of the most enterprising ideas being examined by Stephen Byers and others. Imagine if each adult were given a carbon quota. Those who want to fly a lot or overheat a big house would have to buy extra quotas from low energy users.

This is blue skies thinking - but it needs something of the kind to make individuals change their habits. Everywhere there are green shoots of what might be done, if serious money and political attention were devoted to it now. Take micro-generation. You can buy a small windmill to stick in the garden or on the side of your house for just £900: it plugs into an ordinary 13 amp domestic plug, cuts electricity bills by a third and can feed into the grid. The former energy minister has one.

For more on this article go to www.guardian.co.uk