The US has been criticised over its reluctance to refer to "climate change" at a major Antarctic meeting, with France describing it as a "dangerous precedent" that risks undermining science.

The US did not want to use the term “climate change” at a major Antarctic meeting, instead preferring to focus on “specific” environmental changes.

Its stance was rebuked by other countries, including France, which described it as a “worrying development” that risks undermining credible science.

Conservationists say “editing words” out of a report won’t alter the real impact of climate change.