A CABINET minister from Hampshire has hailed the Cancun climate deal as a breakthrough in the battle against global warming.

Chris Huhne, Eastleigh MP and energy secretary, said the success of the talks in the Mexican resort meant that an international agreement on climate change was now “back on track”.

Mr Huhne was criticised last week for remaining at the talks instead of flying back to London for the Commons vote on raising tuition fees.

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Commenting on the outcome of the negotiations the Liberal Democrat MP said: “A global climate deal is in the UK’s national interest and Cancun shows other countries also want to get on with getting an international deal.

“We’ve worked hard to bring countries together and the expectations have been exceeded.

“A global deal on climate change is now back on track.

“We’ve now got to use this momentum to make urgent progress and lock down that deal – a deal that will benefit our environment and our economies.”

The talks were deadlocked for several days and had been expected to end in abject failure but were rescued by concessions from countries including China, Russia and America.

Nations taking part pledged to cut their emissions and agreed that global temperature rises should stay below 2C.