President Barack Obama is embarking on three days of multinational talks about climate change, the global economy and world hunger in the second and most policy-laden stop of his three-nation, week-long trip.

The meetings Wednesday in Italy may lack the intrigue of Obama's sit-downs with Russia's top leaders earlier this week or the emotion of the reception that the first black American president is likely to receive Saturday in Ghana. But they won't lack for ambition as the world's most powerful officials address problems that threaten the planet.

Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and their daughters arrived in Rome on Wednesday morning. He and the leaders of seven other industrialized nations will meet at L'Aquila near Rome before they widen their circle to include fast-growing countries like China and India, and struggling nations from Africa. In large and small groups, the talks will involve trade, Iran's nuclear ambitions, climate change, food security and other issues.

Obama went immediately into a meeting with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano after arriving at the stately Quirinale Palace, accompanied by Michelle, and meeting his host.

Topping the list are discussions of how to slow the release of greenhouse gases linked to global warming.

Many foreign leaders want the United States to embrace a target of limiting the rise in average planetary temperatures to the 3.6 degree (2 degrees Celsius) level that characterized the pre-industrial era in 1900. Scientists say an increase beyond that could trigger dangerous rises in sea level and other dire problems.

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