A reported proposal by Europe and a group of small island Pacific states to ditch the Kyoto Protocol and replace it with a far weaker alternative has been slammed by Friends of the Earth.

According to reports the nations have jointly proposed a new treaty which would commit both developed and developing nations to emission reductions - and would be based on the controversial Copenhagen Accord, championed by the United States delegation at last year's climate summit.

Friends of the Earth's International Climate Campaigner Asad Rehman said:

"The world's richest nations have done most to create this crisis; they must take responsibility for leading us out of it.

"These new proposals will be based on voluntary pledges that won't work, and are likely to undermine many developing countries whose voices are being increasingly marginalised by these seedy backroom deals.

"The UK Government should be pushing for fair and effective action based on a binding agreement where wealthy nations cut their emissions first and fastest, without carbon offsets.

"Time is running out. If we fail to take effective action the consequences for us all will be disastrous - rich nations and poor."