U.S., China pledge to take action on climate

? President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao each vowed urgent action Tuesday to cool an overheating planet, even as prospects dimmed for a full treaty by the end of the year.

The world’s two biggest greenhouse-gas polluting nations were the focus at the U.N.’s unprecedented daylong climate change summit, which drew more than 50 presidents and 35 prime ministers, along with many environment ministers and at least one prince.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon opened the gathering with an appeal to leaders to set aside national interests and think about the future of the globe — and a rebuke for their foot-dragging thus far.

“The climate negotiations are proceeding at glacial speed. The world’s glaciers are now melting faster than human progress to protect them — and us,” the U.N. chief said.