Most governments now regard climate change as inevitable and want detailed local forecasts to help them prepare and adapt. Economist Jeffrey Sachs of Columbia University, New York, who dropped by on Tuesday after meeting Gordon Brown, said there would be "a lot of interest among politicians in investing the hundreds of millions of dollars necessary, if scientists can promise answers to key questions on water supply, droughts, health and – the current hot topic – future food supply."

ed: Twice the cost at half the power of the Berkeley proposal, what's not to love...