The United States is being urged to join other wealthy nations in setting a 2020 goal for reducing greenhouse gases in order to improve the chances of reaching a climate deal at the upcoming Copenhagen conference. The Danish hosts emphasized the importance of the United States taking action during a meeting in Barcelona. African countries threatened to leave the Barcelona talks unless rich nations committed to more ambitious emissions reductions. The head of the UN Climate Change Secretariat stressed the necessity of a specific target from the United States at the Copenhagen conference. President Barack Obama, addressing reporters at the White House, emphasized the crucial nature of that particular element in the puzzle. He expressed optimism for a significant agreement in Copenhagen but cautioned that it may not address every issue related to the topic. Obama noted that while the deal may not solve all problems, it represents a crucial step forward and sets the stage for further progress in the future. Unlike the European Union and other developed nations, the United States has not yet established a concrete target for reducing emissions by 2020. Democrats in the US Senate are moving forward with legislation in a key committee on Tuesday, despite a boycott by minority Republicans. The proposed legislation aims to reduce US carbon dioxide emissions by 20 percent from 2005 levels. However, even if the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approves the bill in the coming weeks, it is uncertain if it will be passed by the full Senate this year. Delegates at the Barcelona talks expressed concern about the limited time to resolve issues related to sharing emissions reductions between wealthy and developing nations, as well as finding funding to assist developing countries in addressing climate change. The inclusion of forests in the discussions is adding further complexity to the negotiations. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin stated that Moscow will emphasize the importance of considering Russia's forests' capacity to absorb carbon dioxide. After discussions with Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, Rasmussen expressed hope to have enough progress to invite world leaders to the December conference. Australia reported a decrease in emissions last year, excluding the impact of forest fires. Both Denmark and the European Union urged Obama to take more action to facilitate an agreement at the upcoming talks. Danish Climate and Energy Minister Connie Hedegaard questioned how Obama could receive the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo on Dec. 10 and simultaneously send an unprepared delegation to Copenhagen, just a few hundred kilometers away. Swedish Environment Minister Andreas Carlgren, whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, acknowledged a significant and genuine shift in the American stance, but believes more progress is necessary. The US delegation in Barcelona, led by Jonathan Pershing, emphasized their commitment to a UN agreement and highlighted various initiatives under Obama aimed at advancing clean energy and reducing emissions. Pershing stressed the importance of the US being a part of the Copenhagen deal, noting that the US is the second largest emitter of greenhouse gases globally, after China. Antonio Hill of Oxfam reported that African nations are pushing for stronger emissions reductions from developed countries. He also mentioned that Gambia, Ethiopia, and Algeria expressed support for leaving the UN talks. In a demonstration outside the conference center, protesters placed hundreds of ringing alarm clocks to emphasize the urgency of reaching an agreement to combat the increasing impact of climate change.