SYRACUSE (Italy) - THE WORLD'S top polluters ended climate change talks Friday that created new momentum towards an overall deal to fight global warming but serious 'gaps' remained to be overcome.

'Realism has set in in discussions among key nations...the realisation that time is running out' ahead of landmark UN talks in Copenhagen in December, said Achim Steiner, the head of the UN Environment Programme.

'I do leave Syracuse very much concerned that there is no clear pathway to resolving the gaps that remain,' Mr Steiner admitted, saying the main stumbling blocks are setting targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and financing for the greening of developing countries.

The meeting is among several forums on the way to UN talks in Copenhagen in December aimed at sealing an international pact for curbing greenhouse gases beyond 2012.

The G-8-Plus talks brought together the environment ministers from Group of Eight members Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States and their counterparts from Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Mexico, South Africa and South Korea.

Overall, the G-8 countries are responsible for more than 40 per cent of the world's carbon gas emissions.

The United States and China are the world's top two carbon polluters, but US per capita emissions are four to five times those of China and about double those of Europe.

The delegates spelled out 'frankly and clearly' the issues on which G8 heads of state and government should 'devote their leadership capacities' at their July summit, Italian Environment Minister Stefania Prestigiacomo said.

These include improving energy efficiency, developing renewal energy, sustainable agriculture and transportation and building and protecting ecological infrastructure, a top UN delegate said earlier. -- AFP