Nearly 200 nations are convening in Mexico for a new round of UN climate talks, aiming to reach an agreement on crucial issues dividing wealthy and developing nations. The conference in Cancun will focus on securing funds and strategies to protect rain forests and prepare for a warmer future, as well as formalizing goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This event is less anticipated than last year's summit in Copenhagen, which failed to produce a binding agreement. The talks have highlighted tensions between the US and China, the world's top two polluters, with the US pushing for stricter emissions regulations from China. On the eve of the negotiations, Mexican President Felipe Calderon highlighted the economic benefits of addressing climate change in an effort to build trust after the previous summit. He emphasized that the choice between protecting the environment and alleviating poverty, or between addressing climate change and promoting economic growth, is not a real dilemma. Calderon pointed to renewable energy as a solution, showcasing a wind turbine that would power the conference hotel. He stated that the focus of the talks would be on preparing for a warmer world, particularly concerning poorer nations, with an emphasis on adaptation. This perspective surprised European Union negotiators, who emphasized the need for stronger commitments to current emissions targets, especially from developing countries. "We will seek a limited number of decisions in Cancun. Our goal is to outline the path forward," stated Artur Runge-Metzger, a senior EU negotiator, on Sunday. Peter Wittoeck, a senior negotiator from Belgium, which currently holds the rotating EU presidency, mentioned, "We can see the potential for a compromise." The primary objective of the negotiations is to reach a more stringent climate agreement to replace the Kyoto Protocol, which is set to expire in 2012, in order to enhance efforts to combat global warming. Studies released on Sunday indicated that without action, global temperatures could rise by 4 degrees Celsius (7.2F) by the 2060s, requiring an annual investment of $270 billion to prevent rising sea levels.