EU 'will not weaken drive for action on climate change'

Britain today insisted the European Union must work with a wide range of countries to combat climate change, but said a flexible approach to win partners would not weaken the bloc’s determination to tackle the problem.

EU environment ministers were meeting in Luxembourg to discuss efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the 25-nation bloc, which hopes to take a lead in UN talks next month in Montreal, Canada, on cutting pollution beyond the 2012 target set by the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.