Climate change deal hangs in the balance

HOPES of a breakthrough deal on climate change remained in the balance last night as China came under pressure to do more to curb its massive carbon output.

Chinese president Hu Jintao signalled the world’s biggest polluting nation would take action to stem global warming but failed to set the definite targets needed to end the deadlock over greenhouse gas emission cutbacks.

As more than 100 world leaders gathered at a special United Nations meeting in New York, Mr Hu’s move was given a guarded welcome as a firm step in the right direction ahead of negotiations in Copenhagen this December.