President Barack Obama urged the world to take quick action against global warming during a special U.N. summit, emphasizing the importance of addressing the issue promptly. Chinese President Hu Jintau also committed to reducing his country's carbon intensity. Obama warned that time was limited to tackle the problem and emphasized the need for bold and collective action to avoid catastrophic consequences for future generations. Activists were optimistic that the United States and China would provide a boost in momentum, as there were only 2-1/2 months left before 190 nations convened in Copenhagen with the goal of reaching a comprehensive agreement to combat climate change. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who organized the meeting, expressed concern that negotiations were progressing too slowly. Ban emphasized the importance of reaching a wide-ranging agreement in Copenhagen, stating that failure to do so would be morally unacceptable, economically short-sighted, and politically unwise. He stressed the interconnected nature of global challenges, highlighting the need for collective action. Negotiations leading up to the December 7-18 meeting have caused disagreement between developed and developing countries regarding how to distribute emissions reductions. Poorer nations are calling on wealthier nations to provide significant financial assistance to help them deal with the impacts of climate change. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has warned that the talks are close to a standstill and could collapse in a hostile manner. Obama and Hu, who are set to meet individually after the summit, may be able to help resolve the deadlock. If China takes aggressive action to reduce its emissions, it could ease tensions in Washington, where many lawmakers are hesitant to commit to U.S. emission cuts without assurance that Beijing is also taking steps. Obama's efforts to decrease U.S. emissions through legislation have been less prominent compared to his focus on healthcare reform. However, he mentioned in his speech that the United States has made more progress in reducing carbon pollution in the past eight months than ever before.