When I became BP chief executive just over a year ago, I warned that the supply and demand balance for energy was very tight. But, in common with most people, I never expected to see the oil price go quite as high, quite as rapidly, as it has in the past few months.

Unsurprisingly, with consumers and businesses everywhere facing much higher fuel costs, emotions are running high. I understand those feelings. Governments and the energy industry are urgently looking for solutions. But if we are to act sensibly, we must start with the facts. We must accept the world as it is, not as we hope for it to be.