FACTBOX: Participants at Washington climate talks

(Reuters) - Here is the list of participating countries at the Major Economies Meeting on Energy Security and Climate Change, gathering in Washington on Thursday and Friday. These countries are the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases, and they aim to begin discussions about how to reduce these emissions after the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012.

* Australia

* Brazil

* Britain

* Canada

* China

* European Union (current EU president and European Commission)

* France

* Germany