As of 27 September, the necessary funds for the Gloucestershire pilot zone had not been banked, according to a letter from Natural England seen by BBC News.

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"We have known for some time that the cement used to secure the production casing and isolate the hydrocarbon zone at the bottom of the Macondo well must have failed in some manner, " the letter said, noting that BP used a "nitrogen foam cement" recommended and supplied by Halliburton.

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By attacking the IPCC for responding to the risks of climate change too aggressively, the letter marks a major pivot in the politics of climate change, which have officially crossed into the twilight zone.

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