The head of the UN climate change secretariat expressed confidence that a new global agreement on climate change will be reached at a meeting in Copenhagen next year, despite disagreements at talks this week. Yvo de Boer made these remarks at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris, following calls for action on climate change at recent U.N.-led talks in Bonn. The United States expressed reluctance towards taking substantial steps, stating that it was too early. The Copenhagen meeting aims to establish a new treaty on reducing greenhouse gas emissions to take effect after the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012. De Boer believes that increasing public awareness of the consequences of inaction on global warming will pressure governments to take action, especially following the agreement reached at the Bali summit on climate change. He expressed his belief that an agreed outcome is expected in Copenhagen, just like how negotiations were launched in Bali. He emphasized that politicians should not leave Copenhagen without the deal being concluded and that the new pact should be concise and focused, allowing national governments the freedom to shape and implement their own policies. He suggested that the Copenhagen agreement should be brief and focus on key issues that require an international agreement to be effective, cautioning against adding irrelevant elements to the agreement. Earlier, De Boer informed reporters that the United States had been held back from taking concrete action due to the presidential election. However, he expressed confidence that all major candidates in the race had demonstrated a genuine understanding of the necessity for action. De Boer declined to condemn the U.S. position, stating that Washington had acted responsibly by refraining from making commitments that could potentially affect a future administration. He expressed hope for progress in the coming year.