Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan expressed his optimism on Tuesday that a climate change agreement could be reached with the support of the US administration under Barack Obama. Addressing the Global Humanitarian Forum, Annan emphasized the urgency for the world to take action in order to prevent worsening extreme weather events due to global warming. He stressed the need for immediate action to avoid further damage and human suffering, warning about the consequences of delaying necessary measures. The forum, attended by UN agency heads, government officials, and experts, focused on strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the effects of climate change. Annan, 71, hoped that the discussions at the meeting would lay the groundwork for a new agreement in Copenhagen in December to succeed the Kyoto accord. The new president and administration of the United States have shown seriousness in their efforts to combat climate change, according to Annan. With the US being the largest source of emissions, there is optimism for the upcoming Copenhagen meeting and beyond. Over 190 countries will gather in Copenhagen to discuss a successor to the Kyoto Protocol, which regulates greenhouse gas emissions. Economic stimulus measures in various countries, including Washington and Brussels, have led to increased investment in low-carbon energy and alternative technologies, which could create jobs and support sustainable projects. However, climate experts have expressed concerns that the pledges made by industrialized nations to reduce emissions by 2020 are not sufficient to prevent dangerous climate change. According to calculations by Reuters, industrialized nations have pledged to cut their overall emissions by an average of 10 to 14 percent below 1990 levels before December's meeting. The UN Climate Panel states that emissions cuts must be in the range of 25-40 percent below 1990 levels in order to prevent the most severe impacts of climate change.