The leader of the UN climate change organization is urging governments to take concrete steps towards a new treaty to combat global warming, warning that failure to do so could jeopardize negotiations. Currently, negotiators are meeting in Tianjin to discuss the future of the Kyoto Protocol, which ends in 2012. The talks have been hindered by a lack of trust between rich and poor nations regarding climate funds, demands for more transparency on emissions cuts, and frustration over the level of cuts offered by wealthy nations. Delays in reaching an agreement would give less time to address greenhouse gas emissions and create uncertainty for companies unsure about future climate policies and carbon markets beyond 2012. The UN official called for an acceleration in finding common ground among delegates at the Tianjin talks. The negotiations taking place before the main climate meeting in Cancun are the final major round of talks for the year. Nearly 200 governments were unable to reach an agreement on a new legally binding climate pact last year. The meeting in Copenhagen in 2009 resulted in disagreements between rich and developing countries, leading to a non-binding accord with unresolved issues. Governments are working to build trust and finalize a binding treaty by late 2011. A successful outcome in Cancun is crucial to restore confidence and progress in the process of addressing climate change. Wendel Trio, the climate policy coordinator for Greenpeace, expressed concern about the recent devastating floods in Pakistan and severe drought in Russia, stating that rising temperatures could worsen such extreme weather events if drastic cuts to greenhouse gas emissions are not made. Trio emphasized the need for developed countries to demonstrate commitment to their pledges made in Copenhagen in order to build trust among nations. In a separate interview, Figueres mentioned the importance of the Tianjin talks in agreeing on specific details of a future climate pact, such as managing adaptation funds, promoting green technology in poorer countries, and supporting carbon-absorbing forests in Brazil, Indonesia, and other areas. She expressed optimism that governments might agree on creating a climate fund to assist developing nations in transitioning to greener economies, but acknowledged that it could take time to determine the sources of the proposed fund. Even if negotiations progress, the current commitments by governments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will not be sufficient to prevent the world from experiencing dangerous global warming, defined as a temperature increase of 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, according to Figueres. She emphasized that these commitments are not enough to ensure even a two-degree temperature rise, which may still be detrimental for vulnerable countries. Figueres suggested that governments should prioritize obtaining formal commitments for the proposed emissions reductions, recognizing that it is a crucial but insufficient initial step.