Aside from the issues you highlighted about the fondness for hi-tech energy solutions of CCS & nuclear there was one thing that caught my eye and made me think. which was the development of a transport infrastructure not dependent upon oil. I'm assuming this may be the last knockings of the biofuel debate, or it could be taking int oaccount some of the more interesting  car solutions coming out of america (oddly).

But this is ET and I want to talk about railways. Overhead lines are expensive, the cost of the copper is becoming exorbitant and I'm beginning to suspect that it won't be considered affordable for any new developments other than hi-speed rail or heavily used mail lines. Which suggests to me the return of 3rd rail.

A 3rd rail system is substantially cheaper than overhead catenaries and much more easily maintained. Yes, there's a price to pay of the occasional child being fused to the tracks, but that's Darwin for you. So long as it's not a hi speed system (over 160 kph) it works perfectly well and could be rolled out quite easily. It's cheaper than diesels and, barring a revival of steam, is the best way forward out of oil dependency for mass transport

keep to the Fen Causeway