Representatives from the world’s 17 largest and most polluting countries held talks in London yesterday, in an attempt to nail down a financing plan to limit climate change and reduce carbon emissions worldwide.

In December, these countries will attend a conference in Denmark which is meant to end two years of negotiations on a global climate change treaty, and finalize a global plan for action.

Environmental ministers met for a two-day conference this weekend to discuss ways to fund this huge undertaking. One of the biggest issues is helping developing countries deal with natural disasters, which many say are a result of climate change. Tsunamis and coastal flooding has made farming difficult and rapidly increased the spread of disease in these countries, and some experts say it will cost hundreds of billions of dollars to deal with these issues.

The international community is looking to the United States to decide on its own position before this conference, and British Environment Minister Ed Miliband added that it was “important that the U.S. makes as much progress as possible” before the December meeting.

The Obama administration said this “progress” is linked to decisions by Congress, where the house and Senate are deciding on several versions of a complex climate bill.

It seems like progress on the global stage will be slow, but you can find out your own carbon footprint now, then get to work to stop global warming.