Green responsibilities pushed to the front again

Environment ministers from 173 countries are meeting in Bonn for another round of talks on global warming. The focus is set to be on practical actions still needed to meet greenhouse gas emission targets set in 1997.

Also on the agenda will be the notion of emission quota trading, intended to allow heavier polluters to be offset by their cleaner neighbours.

The Met Office has painted an alarming backdrop by warning that if action is not taken, average temperatures will rise by about 3C over the next 80 years. That doesn't sound like much, but the Met says it's enough to cause polar ice to melt, sea levels to rise and low-lying areas to flood - ultimately displacing up to 94 million people around the world.

And then there's the spread of tropical diseases, the general increase in asthma and numerous other side-effects of dirty air.

The two greatest sources of greenhouse gases are the burning of fuel - especially at power stations - and traffic fumes.

Current 'bad guy' in this situation is the US, which has shown little ability to marshal concerted action while at the same time pushing to postpone the programme for compliance.

Elliott Chase