The BBC's World Service poll indicates nine of 10 say action is needed to address global warming, with 65 percent choosing the strongest position, saying, "It is necessary to take major steps starting very soon."

The poll included 14 of the 16 major economic powers invited by President Bush to Washington later this week to discuss climate change and energy security.

Seventy-three percent of respondents in all but two nations want developing countries to limit their emissions in return for financial assistance and technology from developed countries.

The survey, which included telephone and face-to-face interviews, was conducted for the BBC by the international polling firm GlobeScan together with the University of Maryland between May 29 and July 26.

Some 22,182 people in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Britain, India, Indonesia, Italy, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, the Philippines, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Turkey and the United States were interviewed. The margin of error per country ranges from plus or minus 2.3 percent to 3.5 percent.