President Bush's administration conceded for the first time yesterday that the pollution that causes global warming will have to be cut in half around the globe by the middle of the century if the world is to avoid dangerous climate change.

The verbal concession, a dramatic U-turn, came amid unprecedented pressure on the United States in the closing session of the top-level climate conference in Bali. In scenes never before witnessed in international diplomacy, the US was booed and hissed by the representatives of nearly 190 nations for trying to obstruct agreement.

Late on Friday night formal negotiations had to be suspended because anger levels had risen so high that civil discourse was no longer possible. But the acrimony resumed at yesterday's dramatic morning session, when one last round of the US against the rest of the world was played out. During one particularly nasty session, the UN's climate chief, Yvo de Boer, a tough and phlegmatic Dutchman, had to be led from the podium in tears.

http://environment.independent.co.uk/climate_change/article3255688.ece