US President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping joined forces on Monday with other countries to emphasize the importance of reaching an agreement to reduce the increase in global temperatures, which is causing floods, heat waves, and rising sea levels. However, as the leaders departed from Paris, negotiators from 195 countries were left to work on a draft text exceeding 50 pages that still contained numerous disagreements. The primary issue at hand is how to secure the necessary funds to support the transition to cleaner energy sources, essential for the development of emerging countries without heavy reliance on fossil fuels. Despite the challenges, many delegates viewed the strong turnout at the UN climate summit in Paris following the tragic attacks by Islamic State militants as a hopeful sign, especially compared to the failed summit in Copenhagen in 2009 marked by tensions between wealthy and developing nations. French President Francois Hollande expressed optimism for the ongoing talks, scheduled to continue until December. He told reporters that although the project had a good start, it still needs to be completed successfully. He mentioned that there were two potential obstacles: either the vessel could be overloaded and sink, or it could be emptied and not make any progress. The technical discussions did not include the grand language used on Monday. Countries reiterated their positions during negotiations with little indication of potential compromise. China's representative, Su Wei, expressed concern over the lack of dedication from wealthier nations to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and assist developing countries in addressing global warming. Alden Meyer from the Union of Concerned Scientists described the discussions as "nitty gritty," stating that while the opening day was positive, crucial issues remained unresolved. Peruvian Environment Minister Manuel Pulgar Vidal noted that the text still offered numerous options, but expressed optimism that all parties were committed to reaching an agreement. Positive developments included India and France's plan to raise $1 trillion for solar power in impoverished areas, as well as Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates' initiative to raise billions for new energy research and development. Yvo de Boer, the former UN climate chief in Copenhagen, stated that leaders still carry emotional wounds from the Copenhagen summit. He also acknowledged that the presence of many leaders on the opening day of the Paris summit shows their commitment to taking action. If a deal is reached in Paris, it would be the most robust agreement ever to limit greenhouse gas emissions. Liz Gallagher from the E3G environmental think-tank believes that the opening day of the summit has increased the likelihood of reaching an agreement, but she highlighted the significant gap in climate finance. Developing countries are requesting that wealthy nations commit to providing more than $100 billion annually by 2020 to help them access clean energy sources and cope with the impacts of climate change. Disagreements also exist over how to establish a long-term objective for phasing out fossil fuels. In June, the G7 nations agreed to aim for decarbonizing the global economy by 2100. However, China and India argue that they need to continue using coal to alleviate poverty and advocate for a transition to low-carbon development in the coming century. The commitments made by approximately 170 countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions post-2020, ahead of the Paris summit, are insufficient to effectively limit the increase in global temperatures to 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. This is commonly seen as a point at which the planet's climate system could undergo dangerous and potentially catastrophic changes.