Representatives from the largest producers of greenhouse gases, such as the United States, China, and India, will be attending a forum at the U.S. State Department in an effort to reach a U.N. agreement to reduce global warming. This meeting of major economies aims to kickstart climate discussions before the December deadline, when world leaders will gather in Copenhagen to negotiate a new agreement to replace the Kyoto Protocol. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will give the opening speech, and participants will address issues such as technology cooperation. The major economies involved in the forum include Australia, Brazil, Britain, Canada, China, the European Union, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, and the United States. Denmark, the host of the December meeting, was also extended an invitation. Environmentalists and other stakeholders believe that the United States' dedication to combatting climate change is crucial for the success of any worldwide agreement. Jake Schmidt of the Natural Resources Defense Council activist group stated, "Without U.S. leadership, a global warming agreement in Copenhagen will be largely unattainable." President Barack Obama has emphasized the connection between addressing climate change and supporting the economy, and he called for the meeting to restart the major economies process initiated by his predecessor George W. Bush. The efforts of the Bush administration were met with doubt by many participants and were viewed as a diversion from the primary United Nations negotiations on climate change. Obama's plan to address climate change involves reducing U.S. emissions by approximately 15 percent by 2020, bringing them back to 1990 levels. Unlike his predecessor, Bush, who opposed the Kyoto Protocol and other emission limits, Obama's administration is advocating for action on climate change. They have declared that carbon dioxide emissions pose a threat to human health and welfare, allowing the EPA to regulate them as pollutants. While no regulations have been implemented yet, Obama prefers legislative action over regulation. Currently, there is debate in the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee on legislation to cap carbon emissions, with support from environmental activist Al Gore. Todd Stern, the U.S. special envoy for climate change, did not give details on what the United States should bring to Copenhagen in December to show leadership on climate change, but he pointed out that the Obama administration's approach is distinct from that of the Bush administration. Stern stated that the Bush team was not focused on reaching an international agreement, whereas the current administration is seeking cooperation at a substantial, potentially groundbreaking level.