(BBC) US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said climate change is a real problem, and world leaders should forge a new global consensus on tackling it.
At a meeting of the top 16 polluting countries, Ms Rice said the US was "a major emitter" and was not "above the international community on the issue".
She said that the "growing problem" should be resolved under UN auspices.
Critics voiced concern that the US was trying to rally support for voluntary rather than binding emission cuts.
This would dilute attempts to reach a global agreement through the UN, ahead of the expiry of the Kyoto Protocol in 2012.