TOYAKO, Japan - Prime Minister Stephen Harper says it's a "mathematical certainty" the world's developing nations will need to do most of the heavy lifting to lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Harper told Canadian journalists at a news conference on Wednesday that the developed world will likely account for no more than 20 per cent of global greenhouse gases. He says that means emerging economies will need to pull their weight if carbon levels are to be reduced by 2050.

The prime minister says that doesn't necessarily mean big polluters like China and India would need to cut their emissions, and they might get away with slowing the rate by which their emissions grow.

The Group of Eight wealthy nations endorsed a plan Tuesday that would see all the world's major economies halve greenhouse-gas emissions by mid-century.

Emerging economies China and India are reportedly not ready to agree to the measures proposed by the G8 leaders.

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