UN's Kyoto summit in 1997, at which rich countries agreed to binding cuts in emissions, the industry spent a fortune pressing its line that the issue is nonsense.

ECONOMIST: How green is Browne?

The task of the meeting is to wind up negotiations under talks associated with the existing Kyoto Protocol on cutting emissions of greenhouse gases, and move towards a new treaty in 2015 binding all nations, rich and poor in tackling climate change.

BBC: Climate compensation row at Doha

The more Belarus trades with the rich industrialised world, the weaker will become the ties binding it to Russia.

ECONOMIST: Europe.view