The United States is being urged to join other wealthy nations in setting a 2020 goal for reducing greenhouse gases in order to improve the chances of reaching a climate agreement in Copenhagen next month. The pressure on the US was increased by the Danish hosts during a final preparatory meeting in Barcelona, who emphasized the importance of not arriving at the conference without a plan. Some African nations threatened to leave the Barcelona talks unless rich countries committed to more significant emissions reductions. The head of the UN Climate Change Secretariat stressed the necessity of a specific target from the US for the Copenhagen conference. President Barack Obama, while addressing reporters at the White House, emphasized the significance of a specific part of the puzzle. He expressed hope for a significant agreement in Copenhagen, but also acknowledged that it may not fully resolve all issues related to the matter. Obama noted that while it may not solve every problem, it would be a crucial step forward and provide the foundation for future progress. The United States has not yet committed to a specific target for reducing emissions by 2020, unlike the European Union and other developed nations who have set goals such as a 20 percent reduction below 1990 levels by 2020. Democrats in the US Senate are moving forward with legislation to reduce US carbon dioxide emissions by 20 percent from 2005 levels, despite a planned boycott by minority Republicans. Although the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee may approve the bill in the coming weeks, it is uncertain whether it will be passed by the full Senate this year. Delegates at the Barcelona talks are facing challenges in reaching agreements on how to distribute emissions reductions between wealthy and developing nations, as well as how to raise funds to assist developing countries in addressing climate change. The issue of forests is also contributing to the complexity of the negotiations. Moscow's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin stated that Russia will emphasize the importance of considering the carbon-absorbing capacity of its forests. Australian emissions decreased last year, excluding the impact of forest fires. Denmark and the EU urged Obama to take more action to facilitate a successful outcome at the upcoming December conference. Danish Climate and Energy Minister Connie Hedegaard expressed doubt that Obama could receive the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo and send a delegation to Copenhagen without tangible results. Swedish Environment Minister Andreas Carlgren, who is currently holding the rotating presidency of the European Union, noted that there has been a significant and real change in the American position, although more is still expected. The United States has stated its commitment to a UN deal, with head of the US delegation in Barcelona, Jonathan Pershing, emphasizing that efforts have been made under President Obama to promote clean energy and reduce emissions. Pershing stressed the importance of the United States being a part of the Copenhagen deal, especially as the country is the second largest emitter of greenhouse gases after China. Antonio Hill of Oxfam reported that African countries are demanding stricter emissions reductions from developed nations. He mentioned that Gambia, Ethiopia, and Algeria are in favor of withdrawing from the UN talks. Protesters outside the conference center displayed hundreds of ringing alarm clocks to emphasize the urgency of reaching an agreement to combat the increasing threats of climate change.