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They said that in its current form, the plan was worthless.

All references in the earlier draft to funding for research and development into new, clean technology and fuels have also been excised from the latest version.

A section on managing the impact of climate change which previously warned of floods, droughts, crop failures and rising sea levels now contains just one reference to the global crisis.

A spokesman for the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said that the latest document was one of many drafts produced during the course of negotiations, and stressed that the only significant communiqué would be the one agreed at the end of the Gleneagles summit.

Michael Meacher, a former environment minister, described the new text as "very disappointing" and said it was "extraordinary" that doubt was being cast on the simple assertion that the world was getting hotter.

"Presumably it was taken out because of the Americans," he told Channel 4 News.

"I think the problem here is that Europe, and perhaps the United Kingdom, have been far too willing to go along with the kind of draft the Americans want, which is totally inexplicit, and which is going to allow them to continue their economic activities completely unencumbered by global warming or Kyoto.

"If we do that, this is really just a rhetorical exercise."

Stephen Tindale, executive director of Greenpeace, said: "President Bush is an international menace. Blair says climate change is the gravest threat we face, but it seems his friend in the White House refuses even to admit that our world is warming."

Catherine Pearce, of Friends of the Earth, added: "It really is disastrous.

"There is no agreement on the science of climate change. There is no real agreement and commitment in terms of what can be done to bring down emissions. We have to conclude that attempts to keep the United States happy are preventing real progress on this issue."

Ms Pearce said Mr Blair was "in a very difficult place with the US and the fact that they are not willing to move".

The Defra spokesman said: "The Prime Minister has chosen an ambitious agenda for the UK’s presidency of the G8. And our international partners do agree that Africa and climate change are important issues that we must act together to address.

"As in any negotiation, there are multiple versions of texts around. What is important to stress is that the only text that matters is the one we agree at Gleneagles."

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