Seven north-eastern US states are likely to finalise plans today to begin curbing their greenhouse gas emissions. Under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, the states are expected to cap carbon dioxide emissions from power stations in an effort to combat climate change and encourage energy efficiency.

The states - New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont - have been buoyed by the outcome of last week's United Nations talks on the Kyoto protocol on climate change, which took place in Montreal. The talks, during which the US federal government reversed its position by agreeing to talks on the future of international co-operation on climate change, were seen as positive for supporters of the treaty.