Leaders from around the world worked late into the night in an effort to reach an agreement on reducing emissions and providing support for poorer countries affected by climate change before the Friday deadline. The United States helped break the deadlock by proposing a $100 billion climate fund to assist developing nations with adapting their economies and addressing challenges such as crop failures and water shortages. Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen reported that a group of key leaders engaged in productive discussions overnight to resolve issues in the climate negotiations. Prior to the final push, concerns were raised about the possibility of failure, but a gala dinner hosted by Denmark's Queen Margrethe for 120 world leaders at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen marked the beginning of the decisive phase. French President Nicolas Sarkozy stated that time is working against us and suggested that it is time to stop pretending. He emphasized the importance of success in Copenhagen, warning that failure would have catastrophic consequences for everyone. Police reported that 28 people were arrested in connection with a Greenpeace protest near the palace, with three managing to evade security and enter the premises. Activists arrived ahead of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in a motorcade and walked down the red carpet holding signs that criticized politicians for talking without taking action. U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to face pressure to commit to deeper emissions cuts during his upcoming visit, as the United States is the second largest emitter of greenhouse gases after China. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso expressed high expectations for an announcement during the upcoming climate summit. He emphasized that President Obama's visit is not just to repeat what is already in their draft legislation, especially regarding a climate bill pending approval in the U.S. Senate. Obama is scheduled to meet with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao during the summit, where officials anticipate progress on unresolved issues between the United States and China. While there has been advancement on monitoring, reporting, and verification requirements for emissions reductions by China and other major developing nations, it is uncertain if a deal will be reached once Obama arrives. China has not agreed to these demands. The United States has made a pledge to support a $100 billion a year fund for poor nations starting in 2020, which would exceed current aid levels to these nations. This commitment aligns with the requests made by African nations. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed optimism about the U.S. pledge, while a U.S. official indicated that President Obama is not expected to provide more details on U.S. funding commitments. An agreement on financing is just one piece of the puzzle that includes various other measures like protecting rainforests, increasing carbon markets, and strengthening global carbon emission regulations. German Chancellor Angela Merkel believes that if everyone does a little more, progress can be made. The European Union is open to doing more but not on its own. However, any agreement must be reached unanimously. Some small island nations and African countries, which are most at risk from climate change, insist on a strong deal and will not settle for a weak one. "We are discussing the importance of preserving our country," stated Prime Minister Apisai Ielemia of Tuvalu, a Pacific island nation, regarding the ongoing talks that started in Bali, Indonesia two years ago. The proposed agreements in the negotiations include targets such as reducing global greenhouse gas emissions by half by 2050 and requiring developed countries to decrease their emissions by 25 to 40 percent by 2020. Kim Carstensen, leader of the WWF environmental organization's global climate initiative, expressed optimism about reaching a compromise, especially with the financial support offered by the U.S. On Thursday, the likelihood of a strong U.N. climate agreement seemed unlikely as countries pointed fingers at major emitters like China and the U.S. for the deadlock on carbon reduction efforts. Ministers and leaders emphasized the need for renewed urgency, stating that the outcome of Copenhagen is crucial and cannot be allowed to fail, according to China's climate change ambassador Yu Qingtai.