He said he insisted on including this in the carbon budget.

Despite not knowing where the missing carbon goes, scientists say there are two fundamental ways to balance the carbon budget.

Meinshausen's carbon budget between now and 2050 will have been exhausted before 2030.

He will set a series of five year "carbon budgets" with advice on how each sector will have to contribute.

Projected emissions from international aviation and shipping must be taken into account in making decisions on carbon budgets.

We need to nail our colours to the mast of a global carbon budget.

It recommended the level of three five-yearly carbon budgets to cover the periods 2008-2012, 2013-2017 and 2018-2022.

The first three carbon budgets (2008-2012, 2013-2017 and 2018-2022) should lead to emission reductions of 34% by 2020 3.

"Meeting carbon budgets - ensuring a low-carbon recovery - 30 June 2010"

Any reduction in current funding levels (£550m per year) would increase the risk of missing carbon budgets 3.