China's President Hu Jintao has told the United Nations climate change summit in New York that his country will reduce its CO2 emissions while maintaining economic growth.
However, Mr Jintao but he declined to set a specific target for the Asian country.
US President Barack Obama, meanwhile, has urged world leaders to fight climate change, saying a failure to tackle the problem could lead to an 'irreversible catastrophe' in years to come.
About 100 leaders are attending the talks at the United Nations ahead of the Copenhagen summit, which is due to approve a new treaty in December.
The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said failure to agree a treaty would be 'morally inexcusable'.
President Obama said the US had been slow to recognise the threat of climate change, but he called on all countries to come together to tackle the problem.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen, who has travelled to New York for the summit, said Ireland fully supported European Union aims on climate change.
World leaders are trying to agree a formula, which would prevent a global temperature rise of more than two degrees Fahrenheit above present temperatures by limiting emissions.
Top executives from some of Ireland's largest companies, including Intel, NTR and Diageo, have formed a new group to influence Government policy on climate change.
The group has said Ireland can position itself as a world leader in smart green enterprises, if the Government abides by a science-based approach to global warming and adopts tough laws.
Demands for action on climate change were the preserve of environmental lobby groups, but now some of Ireland's most successful companies have moved into that space.
Chief Executive of Business in the Community Tina Roche said climate change is a business issue and business is prepared to tackle it.
Chief Executive of Zurich Life Michael Brennan said pension funds were prepared to invest in emerging green technologies if the right policies were adopted.
Chief Executive of Vodafone Ireland and Chair of the Corporate Leaders Group Charles Butterworth said they were ready to help position Ireland as a world leading low carbon economy.
The Taoiseach said the group would have a valuable input in preparing for the profound changes ahead.
