A panel of UN scientists has fired an opening salvo for world political leaders meeting next month in Bali to negotiate a successor to the Kyoto protocol.

And it’s a stern warning of what’s at stake if governments fail to take action, far stronger than three previous IPCC reports despite lively debate – highlighted by objections from the U.S., China and India -- among about 130 governments who gave final approval.

The meeting began just two days after a United Nations gathering aimed at finding agreement on binding limits on greenhouse-gas emissions, which the U.S. and Canada have opposed. While U.S. officials insist the latest conference was not designed to undercut UN efforts, opening remarks heralded a collision course between the Bush Administration and other world leaders seeking tough new standards to succeed the Kyoto Protocol when it expires in 2012.

A new survey has found growing global awareness of man’s role in climate change, together with a sense of urgency around curbing greenhouse-gas emissions. The challenge now is to get world leaders to take the necessary action.

UN leader Ban Ki-moon says global warming is the biggest struggle facing mankind, and that the Bush administration, a strong opponent of the Kyoto Protocol, has finally awakened to the seriousness of the issue.

A growing consensus of scientists and others says greenhouse gases are causing civil wars in places like Sudan and Afganistan. The conflicts are aggravated by a scarcity of resources due to floods and drought, which are caused by climate change.