As I understand it, even with the Kyoto agreement we're all way short of what needs to be done - the Kyoto deal was trimmed way way back below any kind of minimally realistic level of action, specifically with the aim of keeping the USA on baoard.

With the USA out of the picture it would now be possible to set some realistic levels that would have some prospects of maybe sorting things out in time.

After all, even if the 4% of the population who live in the USA is responsible for 30% of the pollution of the planet, that still leaves 70% of it split between the rest of us - and that's where the action has to be.

Look at it one way, having the USA on board was just an excuse to do sod all. Better off without it.