He insists that industry, as well as governments, must tackle the core issues, rather than trying to rid themselves of responsibility through measures like carbon offsetting - where individuals or companies balance their carbon output by financing green projects.

BBC: A hiker looks out over a mountain in Switzerland

Successive presidents, who carry the burden of responsibility for foreign policy, have accepted that the experts are, on balance, right.

ECONOMIST: Friend or foe? | The

The balance of power is about to shift dramatically within the NHS, with GPs and other clinicians given much more responsibility for spending most of the budget in England.

BBC: NHS reform 'complete waste' warning

Unlike Mr Obama, Mr Ryan puts fiscal responsibility at the centre of his plan: it aims to bring the budget into primary balance as early as 2015 and federal government spending down to below 20% of GDP in 2018.

ECONOMIST: The Republican budget: Praising Congressman Ryan | The