If you want to see where the US is headed on climate change take a look at California. Under Republican governor Arnold Schwarzenegger - whose proactive stance on air pollution is said to have been triggered partly by his son's asthma - the golden state is blazing a trail on greenhouse gas emissions for the next president to follow.

John Houghton chaired the tense IPCC meeting without which there would be no Kyoto Protocol. Here he recalls how science won the day.

This describes the twelve easy steps to take to make your life a little greener.

1.Mow Down Emissions
2. Dead Bulb Depository
3. Blow Up the Car (Tires)
4. Wrap the Heater
5. Kid Power
6. Addicted to the Bottle
7. Save the Beach
ETC....

The European Union is in danger of losing its self-assigned role as the champion of climate change mitigation with member states increasingly worried about the economic implications of taking on far-reaching commitments.