President Barack Obama urged the world to take immediate action against global warming during a U.N. summit, but did not present any new ideas to revive discussions on a climate pact. Chinese President Hu Jintau also promised to reduce his country's carbon intensity. Obama emphasized the urgency of the situation, warning that future generations could face irreversible consequences if bold and swift action is not taken together. Time is running out to turn the tide on this issue. Activists were hopeful that the United States and China would provide a boost of energy, just 2-1/2 months before representatives from 190 nations gathered in Copenhagen with the goal of finalizing a deal to combat climate change. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who organized the meeting, expressed concern that the negotiations were progressing too slowly. Ban emphasized that failing to reach a comprehensive agreement in Copenhagen would be morally unacceptable, economically short-sighted, and politically unwise. He stressed the importance of recognizing the interconnectedness of global issues, stating that the crises of the past year have shown that our destinies are linked. Negotiations leading up to the December 7-18 meeting have created disagreements between developed and developing countries regarding the distribution of emissions reductions. Less affluent nations are urging wealthier countries to provide significant financial assistance annually to help them deal with the effects of global warming. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso warned that the talks are close to a standstill and could collapse in a hostile manner. President Obama and President Hu, who are set to have a private meeting following the summit, may be able to help resolve the deadlock. If China were to take bold steps to limit its emissions, even if not setting a specific cap, it could ease tensions in Washington where many lawmakers are hesitant to commit to U.S. emission reductions without proof of action from Beijing. Obama's efforts to decrease U.S. emissions through legislative actions have been less prominent compared to his focus on healthcare reform. However, he mentioned in his speech that in the past eight months, the United States has made unprecedented progress in reducing carbon pollution.