BARCELONA - THE United States came under increased pressure on Monday to come up with a plan for fighting climate change and to offer an internationally acceptable policy for curbing pollution hastening global warming.

As the five-day UN climate talks reconvened, countries stepped up calls on Washington for specific commitments on reducing carbon emissions and contributing to a global climate fund to help poor countries deal with the damage already being caused by climate change.

Delegates to the Barcelona talks were showing frustration that after two years of talks, the US has been unable to make firm commitments because it is waiting for Congress to enact legislation.

Scientists say poor countries will be hardest hit by climate change. They say coastal areas will be threatened by rising sea levels, countries will be hit by more severe storms as well as more frequent drought, and tropical diseases and warm weather pests will spread.

The question of financing for poor countries also was on the delegates' agenda. Thirty of the draft agreement's 180 pages deal with financing, with the EU calling 5-7 billion euros in climate change aid for poor countries.

In Stockholm, Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt said EU leaders wanted Obama to clarify the US position on climate change this week as they meet in Washington. -- AP