'First steps' climate deal branded toothless by campaigners

World leaders emerged with a climate agreement last night which they claimed was a “first step” in tackling global warming – but which campaigners criticised as “a toothless declaration” which would fail to avert catastrophe.

After hours of tortuous negotiations in Copenhagen, the US announced that President Barack Obama had come to a “meaningful agreement” with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao as well as with India and South Africa.