International

‘This is not a drill’ – What They’re Saying At U.N. Climate Talks

GLASGOW, Nov 1 (Reuters) – COP 26, a U.N. conference critical to averting the most disastrous effects of climate change, kicked off on Monday, its task made even more daunting by the failure of major industrial nations to agree ambitious new commitments.

Here are quotes from key players:

BRITISH PRIME MINISTER BORIS JOHNSON

“Humanity has long since run down the clock on climate change. It’s one minute to midnight on that Doomsday clock and we need to act now.”

U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTONIO GUTERRES

“If commitments fall short at the end of this COP, countries must revisit their national climate plans and policies – not every five years (but) every year and every moment.”

SWEDISH ACTIVIST GRETA THUNBERG, retweeting an appeal for supporters to sign an open letter accusing leaders of betrayal:

“This is not a drill. It’s code red for the Earth. Millions will suffer as our planet is devastated – a terrifying future that will be created, or avoided, by the decisions you make. You have the power to decide.”

SAMOAN ENVIRONMENTALIST BRIANNA FRUEAN

“We are not just victims to this crisis, we have been resilient beacons of hope. Pacific youth have rallied behind the cry ‘We are not drowning, we are fighting’. This is our warrior cry to the world. We are not drowning, we are fighting. This is my message from Earth to COP.”

HEIR TO THE BRITISH THRONE PRINCE CHARLES

“Quite literally it is the last-chance saloon. We must now translate fine words into still finer actions.”

BARBADOS PRIME MINISTER MIA MOTTLEY

“Our people are watching and our people are taking note … Can there be peace and prosperity if one third of the world lives in prosperity and two-thirds live under seas and face calamitous threats to our wellbeing?”

U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER JAKE SULLIVAN

“We are filling our end of the bargain at COP. The fact that China isn’t is not something that they can readily point to us.

“They are a big country, with a lot of resources and a lot of capabilities, and they are perfectly well capable of living up to their responsibilities and it is up to them to do so.”

(Compiled by Giles Elgood; Editing by Kevin Liffey)

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