President Barack Obama urged the world to take immediate action against global warming during a U.N. summit, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. Chinese President Hu Jintau also committed to reducing carbon intensity in his country's economic growth. Obama warned that failure to address the issue quickly and collaboratively could have catastrophic consequences for future generations. He stressed that time is running out to reverse the effects of climate change. Activists were optimistic that the United States and China would provide a much-needed boost before the upcoming climate change conference in Copenhagen, where representatives from 190 nations will try to finalize a deal. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who arranged the meeting, expressed concern that negotiations were progressing too slowly. He emphasized the importance of reaching a comprehensive agreement in Copenhagen, stating that failure to do so would be ethically unacceptable, economically unwise, and politically foolish. Ban stressed the interconnectedness of global issues and urged countries to work together to address the challenges ahead. Discussions leading up to the December 7-18 meeting have caused disagreement between developed and developing countries regarding how to allocate emissions reductions. Less affluent nations are urging wealthier ones to provide substantial financial assistance annually to help them deal with increasing temperatures. Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, warned that the talks were nearing a deadlock and could collapse in a hostile manner. President Obama and President Hu, who are set to have a one-on-one meeting following the summit, may be able to resolve the stalemate. China taking aggressive steps to limit emissions, even if not implementing a strict cap, could ease tensions in Washington, where many lawmakers are hesitant to commit to U.S. emission reductions without assurance that China is also taking action. Obama's efforts to decrease U.S. emissions through legislation have been less noticed compared to his focus on healthcare reform. However, he stated in a speech that in the last eight months, the United States has made more progress in reducing carbon pollution than ever before.