After Kyoto

Less than four months ago the world’s richest countries - America famously excepted - signed up to the Kyoto protocol, writes John Vidal. It was a painstakingly negotiated international treaty that laid out minimal targets and timetables that rich countries should meet until 2012 to combat climate change. This morning Kyoto looks seriously wounded as the Bush administration and Tony Blair not only played it down, but talked openly at Gleneagles of moving ahead after 2012 only with agreements on technology with no mention of targets or timetables.