World leaders speak at COP21
FATE OF DEAL RESTS WITH YOU:
BAN KI-MOON
Let me be clear: The fate of the Paris agreement rests with you. The future of your people, the future of our planet. We have never faced such a test -- a political moment like this may not come again, said UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.
FUTURE OF LIFE AT STAKE:
HOLLANDE
Never have the stakes of an international meeting been so high, because it concerns the future of the planet, the future of life, and yet just two weeks ago right here in Paris a group of fanatics sowed death in the streets, said Hollande as he gave the opening speech.
RISE TO THE MOMENT:
OBAMA
US President Barack Obama urged world leaders to act now to secure a future for humanity. The "future is one that we have the power to change right here right now, but only if we rise to this moment," Obama told 150 leaders at the summit.
READY TO CUT EMISSIONS:
PUTIN
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia was ready to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by almost one-third over the next 15 years compared with 1990 levels - although the fall in Russia's economy since 1990 means that it could still increase its current emissions.
DEAL NEEDS BINDING REVIEWS:
MERKEL
Paris climate talks need to agree on a binding UN framework, complemented by binding reviews to ensure progress to limit global warming, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said.
RESPECT THE DIFFERENCES AMONG COUNTRIES:
XI JINPING
Xi said it was crucial the climate talks addressed economic differences between nations and allowed different countries to develop their own solutions to the problem of global warming. "It is important to respect the differences among countries, especially developing countries," he said.
YOU HAVE POWER TO PUT PLANET ON LIFE SUPPORT:
PRINCE CHARLES
If the planet were a patient, we would have treated her long ago. You, ladies and gentlemen, have the power to put her on life support, and you must surely start the emergency procedures without further procrastination, said Prince Charles of Britain.