President Obama called for world leaders to join in a deal to address climate change at a United Nations conference in Paris on Monday.

USA Today reports Obama spoke before 196 nations at Le Bourget Airport, admitting that the U.S. was partly to blame for the current environmental crisis.

"I come here personally as the leader of world's biggest economy and second biggest emitter to say that America not only acknowledges its role in climate change but embraces doing something about it," Obama said.

The president also warned against adopting "old" attitudes in the face of global warming.

"One of the enemies we will be fighting at this conference is cynicism. The notion we can't do anything about climate change," he said.

An expected 151 world leaders were to attend the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference, working toward forging a historic agreement to join together in combating climate change and curbing greenhouse emissions.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius opened the heavily guarded event, held just over 2 weeks after the tragic terror attacks in Paris. He said negotiators had only a few days to finalize an agreement and that he hoped participants would be able to leave the conference saying "our mission is accomplished."

One of the biggest roadblocks to forming an agreement may be resistance from developing nations, including India and Latin American countries, who believe they should not shoulder the responsibility in addressing a crisis primarily created by wealthier countries like the U.S. and China.

"We know the truth that many nations have contributed little to climate change but will be the first to feel its most destructive effects," Obama admitted. He promised to help poorer nations as they made the economic transition from reliance on fossil fuels.

This will likely be a contentious issue for Latin America. While the region has been heavily affected by climate change, many Latin American economies rely heavily on fossil fuels such as coal and oil.

Mexico was the first developing nation to announce a climate plan in March, while Brazil made a commitment to cut greenhouse gas emissions in September.

Former Latin American leaders have also proposed Latin America form a unified front against climate change.

Regardless of what type of deal is made, Obama insisted that time is of the essence.

"For I believe, in the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., that there is such a thing as being too late," Obama said during his speech, according to The New York Times. "And when it comes to climate change, that hour is almost upon us."