World should at least halve CO2 by 2050: draft text

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - The world should at least halve world greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 with rich nations taking the lead, according to a first draft text on Friday seeking to break deadlock on a new climate pact at U.N. talks.

"Parties shall cooperate to avoid dangerous climate change," according to the text, proposed by Michael Zammit Cutajar of Malta, who chairs talks on long-term action by all nations at the December 7-18 meeting on a new climate pact in Copenhagen.

The text offered a range for global cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, mainly from burning fossil fuels, of either at least 50, 85 or 95 percent by 2050. More than 110 world leaders will attend a closing summit on December 18.

The numbers were bracketed, showing there is no agreement.

"Parties should collectively reduce global emissions by at least (50/85/95) percent from 1990 levels by 2050 and should ensure that global emissions continue to decline thereafter," according to the text.

It also offered options for rich nations' cuts in emissions starting at 75 percent and ranging up to more than 95 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.

And it said developed nations should cut their emissions on average by at least 25-40 percent, ranging up to about 45 percent by 2020, also from 1990 levels.

Developing nations led by China and India have in the past rejected accepting a halving of world emissions by 2050 unless the rich take far tougher action to cut their emissions.

The text said developing nations should make a "substantial deviation" to slow the growth of their emissions by 2020, or slow the growth by 15-30 percent below projected levels by 2020.