The Royal Society of Chemistry warns that the Government's decision on nuclear power plants must not obscure the fact that the country has to deal with the effects of fossil fuel consumption, which will continue for decades to come.  This has to be additional to work on renewables.

Chief executive Dr Richard Pike said: "We must ramp up research and development of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology to address the inevitable future consumption of oil, coal and gas."

He said that in the UK each person, on average, generates three tons of carbon a year while the world average is just one ton.

"As China and India take their place on the world economic stage will see carbon dioxide emissions potentially doubling globally as a consequence during the next 50 years.

"It will fall to scientists and engineers to provide the solutions and actions to reduce these through CCS. These vital projects must be initially funded and supported by our Government, and the international fiscal and regulatory framework established to make such activity commercially self-sustaining."

He added: "If Britain takes the lead in this essential area of science and industry it will produce enormous benefits, not least of which is income for the country by selling its expertise around the globe."