OTTAWA, October 15, 2009 (AFP) - Environment Minister Jim Prentice on Thursday refuted reports of a serious schism between Canada and the Group of 77 Developing Nations over how to combat climate change.

He and his climate change envoy Michael Martin disputed media reports of a "walk-out" by representatives of the developing G77 countries at a UN climate change meeting in Bangkok last week to protest Canada's position.

"An informal discussion was convened one evening among interested parties on the possible legal outcome of the negotiations," they said in a statement.

"During that discussion, some developing country representatives indicated that they were not prepared to discuss this subject and chose to leave the meeting.

"They did not 'walk out on Canada's address' as has been reported, their decision to leave was taken before Canada spoke during the meeting," it added.

"All parties returned to the negotiations the following day."

Canada had agreed under the international Kyoto Protocol to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to 6.0 percent below 1990 levels by 2012, but emissions have instead increased by more than 35 percent.

In 2007, Ottawa outlined a new plan to cut CO2 emissions 20 percent, based on 2006 levels, by 2020, saying the targets agreed to by the previous administration were unattainable.

Its reluctance to implement tougher measures stemmed in part from Washington's refusal to ratify Kyoto.

There was a fear in Canada that since US companies would not be affected by the Kyoto Protocol -- because the United States did not sign on to the accord -- that Canadian companies would be at a trade disadvantage. The two nations are the world's largest trading partners.

At the next round of UN talks in Copenhagen in December, Canada is hoping for a comprehensive post-Kyoto pact that includes all major emitters, including the United States, China and India, said Prentice.