G8 leaders pose for official group photo at summit, in Toyako, Hokkaido, 08 Jul 2008

Major rich and developing nations have agreed to work to fight climate change, but have not agreed on specific goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The pledge was issued Wednesday on the third and final day of the annual summit of the world's eight major industrialized nations - held this year on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. 

The Group of Eight leaders held discussions with with their counterparts from eight major economies and the European Union on strategies for dealing with climate change.  Asian powerhouses China, Australia and India were among those represented at the talks.

The G8 leaders on Tuesday endorsed a non-binding goal of cutting worldwide emissions of greenhouse gases in half by 2050.  But officials who attended Wednesday's meeting say the developing nations have reservations about that goal. 

The group did pledge to support United Nations-sponsored negotiations on a new global climate change pact due by the end of 2009. 

The leaders of Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, South Korea and South Africa also took part in Wednesday's talks.  The 16 nations are responsible for about 80-percent of the world's emissions of greenhouse gases, believed to cause climate change.

U.S. President George Bush met with the leader of India earlier Wednesday and is scheduled to meet with leaders from China and South Korea before leaving for Washington.

Some information for this report provided by AFP and AP.