Major world economies have made progress on a new UN deal to fight climate change. But they are split over whether to set a goal of halving global emissions by 2050.

The US-led meeting of 17 nations ended in Paris on Friday. The countries account for 80 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. They have reached agreement on sharing clean technologies, financing and possible sectorial emissions goals for industries such as steel or cement.

But deep divisions remain about whether to set a goal of halving global emissions by 2050, which is favored by the EU, Japan and Canada, but opposed by the US.