Diplomats from the largest greenhouse gas polluters in the world, such as the United States, China, and India, will be attending a forum at the U.S. State Department on Monday with the goal of reaching a U.N. agreement to reduce global warming. This meeting of major economies aims to kick-start discussions on climate change before the December deadline in Copenhagen, where a new agreement will be sought to replace the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will give opening remarks, and participants will address issues such as technology cooperation. The major economies involved are Australia, Brazil, Britain, Canada, China, the European Union, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, and the United States. Denmark, as the host of the December meeting, was also extended an invitation. Environmentalists and other individuals believe that the United States' dedication to combating climate change is crucial for any global agreement. Jake Schmidt from 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 assisting the struggling economy, and convened 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 U.N. talks on climate change. Obama's plan to reduce U.S. emissions by 15% by 2020 is a stark contrast to Bush's opposition to the Kyoto Protocol and limits on carbon dioxide emissions. Obama's administration believes in taking action on climate change, including potentially regulating carbon dioxide as a pollutant. Legislation is currently being debated in the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee, with support from environmental activist Al Gore. Todd Stern, the U.S. special envoy for climate change, did not outline specific requirements for the United States to showcase leadership in Copenhagen in December. He mentioned that the Obama administration's strategy is distinct from the Bush administration's, as they are seeking an international agreement and aiming for significant cooperation at a potentially transformative level.