WITH only one twentieth of the earth's population, the USA is the world's biggest polluter. It pours out a fifth of the man-made climate-changing emissions that threaten global ruin.
But what is the superpower with that record doing about reducing the damage?
It is still increasing its "greenhouse gas" discharges - and is now backing down on its international pledges to curb them.
It seems President Clinton has been influenced by domestic pressures - from US industries and strong opposition in the Senate.
But he and his foot-draggers back home should realise that this is not an internal issue, but a vital global one.
International pressure - perhaps even to the extent of trade sanctions - must fall fast to the US to end this dangerous back-tracking.
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