The UK also needs to reduce carbon emissions by 80% below 1990 levels within less than 40 years. To keep the country running, key infrastructure sectors must adopt an integrated approach to ensure that networks will cope with future demand. But is the UK brave enough to make the dramatic transformations needed to stay economically competitive and cut the carbon, especially in the context of major spending cuts?

The government will need to provide clear policies and planning – a big picture strategy. Funding will need to come from a combination of private investments and government funding.