Major economies seek "deep cuts" in C02 emissions

TOYAKO, Japan, July 9 (Reuters) - The Group of Eight rich nations and major emerging economies including China and India said on Wednesday they supported a "shared vision" for action on climate change, including a long-term goal for cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

A statement by the leaders of the grouping's 16 countries also said they recognised the need for "deep cuts" in global greenhouse gas emissions to fight global warming. But they stopped short of urging numerical targets for those reductions.

The group, meeting on the sidelines of a G8 summit in northern Japan, urged serious consideration be given to "ambitious scenarios" outlined by a U.N. climate change panel.

Those scenarios call for cuts of 50-85 percent or 30-60 percent, by 2050.

The statement also said major developed economies would implement mid-term goals while major developing economies would take steps with a view to "achieving a deviation from business as usual emissions", referring to curbing growth in emissions.

Papering over deep differences, the G8 on Tuesday endorsed a goal of at least halving global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 but emphasised they would not be able to do it alone. (Reporting by David Ljunggren; Writing by Linda Sieg; Editing by Hugh Lawson)