US President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping joined forces with other countries on Monday to emphasize the importance of reaching an agreement to combat the increase in global temperatures, which is believed to be causing floods, heat waves, and rising sea levels. However, as the leaders departed from Paris, negotiators from 195 nations were left to work on a draft text exceeding 50 pages that still contained numerous disagreements. The primary issue at hand is determining how to secure the necessary funds to support the transition to cleaner energy sources essential for the development of emerging countries without heavy reliance on fossil fuels. Despite the challenges, many delegates viewed the high attendance at the UN climate summit in Paris, which came shortly after terrorist attacks by Islamic State militants, as a sign of optimism following the failed summit in Copenhagen in 2009. French President Francois Hollande expressed optimism about the initial talks, which are scheduled to continue until December. He informed reporters that although the journey started well, it must also successfully reach its destination. He explained that there were two obstacles: either overloading the vessel causing it to sink, or emptying it and having it go nowhere. The technical discussions did not echo the grand language used on Monday. Countries reiterated their stances during negotiations, showing little sign of potential compromise. China's representative Su Wei expressed concern over the lack of dedication from wealthy nations to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and assist developing countries in addressing climate change. Alden Meyer from the Union of Concerned Scientists described the discussions as "back to the nitty gritty," emphasizing that while the opening day was positive, critical issues remain unresolved. Peruvian Environment Minister Manuel Pulgar Vidal stated that the text still offers several options, but everyone has demonstrated their commitment to reaching an agreement. Positive developments included India and France's plan to raise $1 trillion for solar power in impoverished regions, as well as a private sector initiative spearheaded by Bill Gates to generate billions of dollars for new energy research and development. Yvo de Boer, the former UN climate chief in Copenhagen, mentioned how leaders are still affected by the outcomes of the Copenhagen summit. He noted that the presence of many leaders on the opening day of the Paris summit shows their commitment to progress. A potential agreement in Paris would be the strongest yet in terms of binding both rich and poor nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Liz Gallagher from the E3G environmental think-tank also believes that an agreement is more likely after the opening day, but she highlighted the significant gap in climate finance negotiations. Developing nations are calling for wealthier countries to commit to providing more than the current target of $100 billion per year by 2020 to help them access clean energy sources and adapt to the impacts of climate change, such as increased flooding, droughts, and severe storms. There are also disagreements about establishing a long-term plan to phase out fossil fuels. The G7 nations have pledged to decarbonize the global economy by 2100, but China and India argue that they need to continue using coal to reduce poverty and prefer a gradual shift to low-carbon development in this century. However, the pledges made by approximately 170 countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions after 2020, leading up to the Paris summit, are insufficient to keep global temperatures from rising more than 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Many people see this as a point at which the planet's climate system could undergo dangerous and potentially catastrophic changes.