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Polar Bears in Alaska, USA, in September this year. Greenpeace claim, Monday, November 2, 1998, that the effects of global climate change, including the melting and retreat of Arctic sea ice, is affecting polar bear habitat, and may spell doom for the creatures in the long run. A crucial world summit aimed at halting disastrous climate change begins today in Buenos Aires. The gathering of officials - in advance of the ministerial session next week - aims to work out how countries can meet their legal pledge made last year at Kyoto, to cut greenhouse gas levels by 5.2% by 2012 from 1990 levels. Environmental campaigners say this target is far too low and bigger reductions are needed by the middle of the next century, if dangerous weather extremes like floods, hurricanes, drought and heatwaves are to be averted. (KEYSTONE/- PHOTO/AFP/GREENPEACE/STR) === /NO SALES ===