Climate talks in Poland began with calls for urgent action against global warming despite economic slowdown, warning that inaction could lead to water shortages for half the world by 2050. US President-elect Barack Obama received praise for his ambitious goals to combat climate change. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk emphasized the need for environmental work to continue regardless of economic conditions, stressing that financial crises are temporary while the impact of climate change is long-lasting. The talks in Poznan mark the halfway point in a two-year effort to reach a new UN climate treaty by the end of 2009 to replace the Kyoto Protocol. Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen emphasized the importance of not allowing the financial crisis to detract from addressing urgent issues like climate change. He will be hosting a meeting in Copenhagen in late 2009 to reach a UN deal. Rajendra Pachauri, head of the UN Climate Panel, warned that many people were still not fully aware of the potential consequences of inaction, which could lead to irreversible change. He highlighted the increasing number of people facing water stress in river valleys and the possibility of the Greenland icecap melting. Pachauri also pointed out the growing risk of extinction for various species of animals and plants. Yvo de Boer, who leads the UN Climate Change Secretariat, emphasized the urgency of increasing efforts to reach a deal by next year. He stated that time is running out and work needs to accelerate. The WWF organization distributed walnuts to attendees at the conference and encouraged them to solve the climate crisis. Greenpeace revealed a large sculpture depicting the planet in danger from a wave of wood and coal. Rasmussen commended Obama's policies following disagreements with President George W. Bush. He expressed his pleasure at Obama's ambitious climate and energy policies as a way to combat the economic downturn. De Boer praised Obama's plans as being ambitious and noted that he aims to reduce US greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. Currently, US emissions are approximately 14 percent higher than they were in 1990, mainly due to the burning of fossil fuels in various industries. In contrast, Bush's policies do not anticipate a peak in emissions until 2025. The economic downturn in Europe has raised concerns about the expenses associated with the EU's target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20% below 1990 levels by 2020. Poland and Italy, both heavily reliant on coal for electricity, are pushing for changes in a deal set to be finalized at an EU summit on December 11-12 in Brussels.