The US and five Asia-Pacific states have announced a surprise pact to cut greenhouse gases which falls outside the Kyoto Protocol on climate change.
China, India, South Korea, Japan and Australia and the US account for nearly half of world greenhouse gas emissions.
The US-led initiative would tackle global warming with new technology supplied to countries most in need.
Critics say the new compact undermines Kyoto and is likely to be ineffective because it is non-binding.
See also “New climate deal upsets nations in Kyoto pact” from the Telegraph.
