The carbon-cutting campaign gathered momentum as the year went on, culminating in the Copenhagen summit of world leaders in December – and a last-minute appearance by US president Barack Obama

Closer to home, the Conservatives threw their weight behind a new generation of nuclear power in the UK, and some significant changes to the rules around low-carbon building. Most importantly, the government ruled that zero-carbon homes could use off-site energy solutions, although they should focus primarily on energy efficiency.

The Part L consultation is rumbling on, although without β€œconsequential improvements”. The plan to compel homeowners to make energy efficiency improvements to their homes when doing other building works was dropped at the eleventh-hour by housing minister John Healey.