Japan has asked major greenhouse gas emitters, including China and India, for more cooperation in global efforts to combat climate change.

Ministerial-level talks began on Monday at the UN COP27 climate change conference, which entered its second week in Egypt.

Ministers from around the world discussed behind closed doors how to narrow gaps between the estimated amount of greenhouse gas reductions needed to limit the global average temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and reduction targets set by each country.

Japan's Environment Minister Nishimura Akihiro told NHK after the meeting that he stressed the need for both developed and developing nations to work together as one to reduce emissions.

The minister said that he told other attendees that without the cooperation of major emitters, there would be little progress.

China tops the list of the world's largest greenhouse gas emitters, followed by the United States, India, Russia, and Japan.

Nishimura said that he asked China, India, and other emitters whose reduction targets are not enough to achieve the 1.5-degrees increase limit for cooperation.

He referred to remarks by the Egyptian chair that the 1.5-degrees goal needs to be achieved urgently.

Nishimura said that many countries showed a positive stance on cooperating in that effort, but some others expressed reluctance.

Industrialized countries want emerging economies to do more to reduce emissions, but the emerging ones are reluctant to make further cuts.

The question now is whether the two sides can narrow their differences and work together to create an effective reduction plan.