Alistair Darling, the British chancellor, told his colleagues it will be very difficult for the economic organization, consisting of 20 of the world's largest economies, to put together a deal to replace the controversial Kyoto treaty at next month's meeting in Copenhagen unless everyone can agree on how much it will cost each member nation.

"Finance ministers must be engaged because if there isn't an agreement on contributions, the Copenhagen agreement is going to be much more difficult," Darling said.

The BBC said it appeared several nations were waiting for the United States to lay its cards on the table. Darling added he doubted a binding agreement would be reached this year.

The summit at St. Andrews in Fife, also focused on the global economy. Some members urged closer international cooperation on monitoring the budding recovery and preventing the reemergence of the conditions that caused the recession.

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