The EU called on "like-minded states" to adopt time-bound targets to increase renewable green energy output by means such as solar and wind power to cut emissions from the fossil fuels blamed for warming the planet and to improve the health of people who use wood stoves as their main energy source.

"Increasing the use of clean renewable energy will have multiple benefits for rich and poor countries alike," said Margot Wallstrom, European environment commissioner.

The EU has its own target of doubling its use of renewables to 12 percent of total energy consumption by 2010.

The proposal, backed by several central and eastern European states, small islands, New Zealand, Norway and Turkey, said that while it endorsed the more modest goals agreed at the Earth Summit, targets would help guide investment and develop the markets for renewable energy technologies.

Nations at the summit agreed an energy plan that called for developing cleaner fossil fuels and urged states to develop green energy, but mandated no goals.

Energy had been key focus at the summit, which attracted tens of thousands of delegates and more than 100 world leaders to follow-up on the promises made at the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit a decade ago.