Could UN punish pollution?

Hours after a UN panel concluded that global warming was almost certainly man-made, French President Jacques Chirac called for an international body to be set up to protect the environment.

Now countries believed to be contributing most to pollution could be punished if a new environmental body is set up.

Dozens of countries have backed the idea, but the US, China, Russia and India are said to be opposed to the plan.

The organization would be created under the auspices of the United Nations Environmental Programme but measures to punish 'climate offenders' have not yet been discussed.