US accused of trying to undermine UN climate change body

Environmentalists have accused the United States of trying to undermine the credibility of the United Nations committee on climate change by seeking to unseat the committee’s outspoken chairman.

According to the BBC, the US will attempt to unseat Dr Robert Watson and replace him with someone else when the UN climate change panel meets in Geneva in two weeks’ time.

Green campaigners said the US wants to replace Dr Watson with somebody less experienced.

Speaking from Germany, Dr Watson said he is not surprised by the apparent attempt to remove him from office, saying it is a result of the close relationship between the Bush administration and businessmen from the US oil industry.