And it is equally hard to believe the US will be able to meet its emissions commitments if President Barack Obama’s Clean Power Plan (CPP) does not succeed.

Yet the CPP — which would enforce emissions limits for each of the 50 states — will come under sustained attack this year from climate-sceptic opponents who want to overturn it.

If the courts block implementation of all or part of it, Obama would suffer a stinging defeat that could limit his and his successor’s ability to regulate emissions through the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which is part of the executive branch.

“Taking