Ministers from around the UK have pledged to step up their action against climate change.

In Edinburgh, finance minister John Swinney said that local councils would have a key role to play in tackling global warming.

And in Northern Ireland, transport minister Conor Murphy said the travel sector should also be considering the impact of climate change.

In London, environment minister Phil Woolas published details of the government's carbon offset fund.

"Offsetting emissions from transport isn't the answer to climate change - and that's as true for the government as it is for everybody else," he said.

"However it's right that we are leading by example and offsetting every tonne of CO2 emitted through projects that avoid emissions in developing countries, create jobs and improve the local standard of living."

Environment minister Joan Ruddock also announced that Bristol, Leeds and Manchester are to develop tailored action plans to reduce their CO2 emissions.

"Our cities were once at the forefront of the industrial revolution," she said.

"Now they have the opportunity to lead the way again and be the driving force behind our push to a low carbon economy."

Swinney on Thursday launched a database of information designed to help Scottish councils co-ordinate their efforts to reduce emissions.

"Local authorities have a critical contribution to make if Scotland is going to take a global lead in the fight against climate change," he said.

"Moving forward, councils have a key contribution to make in delivering the ambitious targets in our proposed Climate Change Bill.

"They will be the frontline in safeguarding communities from the unavoidable impacts of a changing climate."

Murphy, who was addressing a conference of travel and climate change experts in Belfast, called for the development of environmental protection plans.

"Decision-makers in the business, engineering, environment and communications sectors all have an obligation to effectively address issues relating to climate change and transport," he said.

"It is vital that key stakeholders have a clear understanding of the potential impacts and response strategies to climate change."