The Kyoto Protocol is a legal pact by industrialised countries to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, which are thought to speed global warming.

The aim is to reduce emissions by 5% by 2012, each country has its own target to meet.

The US - the world's biggest polluter - pulled out of the deal in 2001, but 141 other countries ratified the treaty.

Tony Blair still hopes to persuade the US president to take action to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

The UK is likely to meet its Kyoto target to cut greenhouse gases by 12.5%, but not its own target of a 20% drop in carbon dioxide levels.

These rose slightly in 2002-3 and have not really reduced since 1997.

The sharpest fall in the early 1990s coincided with the switch from coal to gas to generate electricity.

CO2 emissions from planes have risen the most � more than 85% since 1990, while road traffic remains a major polluter and is expected to continue to increase.

With shrinking North Sea gas and oil reserves and a drive for cleaner fuel, renewable energy could be the way of the future.

Biofuels, solar, wind and tidal power are used much less than other European countries, but are on the increase.

But critics say they alone are not sufficient to cut greenhouse gases.

They say the UK should use more nuclear power - which creates less carbon dioxide and more energy than fossil fuels, but is much more controversial.

Britain produces more and recycles less waste than most of the rest of Europe.

Much goes straight to landfill sites, but EU rules and a lack of space means that should be halved by 2020 and more should be recycled or composted.

Household recycling, most of which is done at bottle banks and tips, is on the increase. But so is the amount of waste created in the first place.

Britain recycled about 15% of its household waste in 2003 - the aim is to recycle 25% by the end of 2005.

Spiralling prices, more single people and a slowdown in construction have helped create a major housing shortage.

Those in temporary accommodation rose 7% to hit 100,810 in September 2004.

Plans to build 1.1m new homes in the South East by 2016 aim to meet demand and help nurses, teachers and other key workers get on the property ladder.

But some say it will put the already densely populated area under strain and will lead to water shortages and will destroy wildlife and landscapes.