Environment ministers from the world's leading industrial economies are meeting in Kent, south-east England to discuss global climate change.

BBC Environment correspondent, Tim Hirsch on the conference (45")

It is the first meeting of the so-called G8 (Group of the world's eight biggest economic powers) since last year's agreement at Kyoto on cutting the emission of greenhouse gases by 6%.

Despite the agreement, big differences remain on how exactly that should be achieved.

Michael Meacher will call on Russai to take more action.

The UK's Environment Minister, Michael Meacher, says he will use Saturday morning's discussion on climate change to urge Russia to take more action. Under the Kyoto pact, the Russians are not obliged to make any cuts before 2010.

There will also be pressure on the US from the four European members of the G8 to agree rules which will prevent the big polluters from buying their way out of their obligations.

The weekend gathering at Leeds Castle is unlikely to produce firm decisions but could be an important stage in the debate leading up to the next major conference on climate change in Buenos Aires in November.

Also on the agenda at this informal gathering are the link between the environment and jobs and the problem of international environmental crime.

The ministers will be told that the illegal trade in endangered species is worth about $5bn a year, making it second only to the drugs trade.

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