U.S. President George Bush unveiled his plans for a global warming conference by sending invitations to 13 countries and world bodies, including Canada, on Friday.

The conference, scheduled for Sept. 27 and 28, is intended to bring together the world's biggest polluters in Washington to set long-terms goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Climate change conference invitees
United States (host) European Union Japan China Canada India Brazil South Korea Mexico Russia Australia Indonesia South Africa United Nations

"In recent years, science has deepened our understanding on climate change and opened new possibilities for confronting it," Bush said in his invitation letter.

He said representatives would address what happens after the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012 and establish, by the end of 2008, long-term global goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The nations would also discuss working with the private sector to promote clean energy technologies.

The Kyoto agreement is a plan to limit the amount of carbon dioxide that can be emitted from power plants and factories in industrialized countries.

The United States did not sign Kyoto and developing countries, such as India and China, are exempt from its obligations. Bush said he wants to bring these nations to the table so they can become part of the solution 

The president proposed the conference, which will be hosted by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, during the May Group of Eight summit but had not revealed the invitees or the date.

With files from the Associated Press