Climate at a crossroads as Trump and Biden point in different directions

The two US presidential contenders offer starkly different approaches as the world tries to avoid catastrophic global heating

Among the myriad reasons world leaders will closely watch the outcome of a fraught US presidential election, the climate crisis looms perhaps largest of all.

The international effort to constrain dangerous global heating will hinge, in large part, on which of the dichotomous approaches of Donald Trump or Joe Biden prevails.

Related: Biden's pledge to 'transition' from oil draws praise – and Republicans' anger

Related: Biden's pledge to 'transition' from oil draws praise – and Republicans' anger