Ministers attending the International Energy Agency (IEA) on Thursday agreed to work towards a low-carbon global economy at talks that included emerging giants China, India and Russia for the first time.

"This is a historic moment," Dutch Economy Minister Maria van der Hoeven, who chaired the meeting in Paris, said in a statement.

"Today, we chart a course to a low-carbon economy, adequate energy investment and greater global engagement," she said.

Ministers recognised the interlinkage between energy security, sustainable energy and climate change ahead of a key global warming conference in Copenhagen in December where governments are set to discuss cutting emissions.

Founded during the 1973-1974 oil crisis to coordinate measures during oil supply emergencies, the IEA now has 28 members including several European nations, as well as Japan, South Korea and the United States.

Several major emerging markets such as China are not represented, however, and the IEA ministers agreed to organise talks in the second half of next year to build an "international partnership on energy and sustainability.

"The participation of China, India and Russia in this ministerial meeting reflects the growing interconnectedness of energy challenges and the need to work for a common and better future for energy security, economic growth and environmental sustainability," the IEA statement said.