Korea, the world's seventh-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, has proposed a new strategy to get the world's poorer countries to voluntarily reduce emission levels.

President Lee Myung-bak chaired one of several roundtable sessions on Tuesday at the UN, where 89 heads of state have converged to discuss ways to deal with global warming.

Lee said each country needs to take part in efforts to lower greenhouse gas emissions according to their capacities. He has stressed that efforts to lower greenhouse gas emissions must not pose obstacles to developing countries as they try to develop their economies and fight poverty.

He suggested a method whereby each country registers with the UN their action plans to lower greenhouse gas emissions. The proposal is designed to break an impasse between developed and developing countries over binding greenhouse gas cuts. The ultimate goal is to get countries to present their reduction plans when they meet in Copenhagen in December to negotiate a treaty to replace the abortive 1997 Kyoto Protocol.

Average global temperatures have increased close to one degree Celsius over the past century. Just last week, scientists reported one of the greatest losses of ice in the Artic Ocean in history, topping the previous records set in 2007-2008.

China offered to improve energy efficiency and reduce "by a notable margin" the growth rate of its carbon pollution as measured against economic growth. But it did not mention specific levels or timeframes.

Lee said Korea will unveil its target for greenhouse gas reduction this year, becoming the first developing country to make such a commitment voluntarily.

The U.S. Senate has yet to tackle required legislations to reduce greenhouse gas emission levels.