The environmental ministers who must approve the plan have already backed it.

This was followed in October by a meeting at which environmental ministers gave the go-ahead to produce a policy proposal.

Italy's environmental minister raised the alarm about a potential environmental catastrophe.

In Germany, the environmental minister has proposed making automobile companies responsible for ultimate disposal.

The conference, which involves 150 countries, is to wrap up on July 18 and 19 with a meeting of environmental ministers.

"But I have no right to execute it, and management's rights include an appeal" to the environmental minister in Warsaw.

Chemnitz Narup was the country's environmental and health minister between 2005 and 2006.

From 2003 to 2005, she served as assistant environmental minister, but found the budget for environmental action "peanuts".

It is unfortunate that the environmental ministers should refuse to take this reasoning on board.

"The idea of an integrated policy is something new and has never been done before," Marina Silva, the environmental minister, said in an interview.