UK set to sign historic climate change deal

The UK is among more than 160 countries to sign a historic climate change deal later.

It is the world's first comprehensive plan to tackle global warming after a deal was struck during United Nations talks in Paris in December.

Friday - which is world Earth Day - is the first time countries can sign up to the deal at an official ceremony in New York.

The UK government faces criticism for fossil fuels still used at home. Credit: PA

Energy Minister Lord Bourne is attending the ceremony to sign the agreement for the UK.

But the UK government faces criticism at home for continuing to allow mining for coal, the dirtiest fossil fuel.

Friends of the Earth said they will send a tonne of coal to Westminster - with each lump representing the 10,000 signatories of a petition calling for a change to planning rules to stop new opencast coal mines.

Curbing global climate emissions to prevent dangerous temperature rises will require leaving most of the world's fossil fuels in the ground, they say.