Climate change summit: World leaders gather in Paris to mull over global risks & challenges

Argentina’s Vice President Amado Boudou said that the interests of developing countries need to be considered in the final agreement that is expected to be signed at the end of the climate change conference in Paris.

“We need an agreement with a differential approach that would take into account the needs of developing countries,” Boudou said on Monday.

He added that countries should have the freedom to choose in which sectors they want to reduce emissions. “Agriculture is not a major global source of pollution and climate change threatens global food security.”

British Prime Minister David Cameron called on the leaders gathered at the conference to sign a deal that would be a binding legal mechanism providing aid to the poorest and most vulnerable countries in terms of finance and assuring the transfer of technologies from the richest countries to poorest ones.

“It is not difficult [to reach an agreement], it is doable,” Cameron said. “What would we tell our grandchildren if we fail to agree on a deal?” he added.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India wants to provide energy to the 200 million Indians who have no access to it. He also called on developed countries to make clean energy accessible to the developing world.

“Developed countries must fulfill that responsibility to make clean energy available, affordable, and accessible to all the developing world,” Modi said.

“Energy is a basic human need, so we need an ambitious technology initiative, driven by a public purpose, not just market incentives. This includes intellectual property. For this we need to scale up the green climate fund,” he added.

According to World Bank data, India’s carbon dioxide emissions are the third highest in the world, after that of China and the US.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said technologies are essential for responding to the climate crisis. He said that this crisis requires a global solution and called for further investment in sustainable technologies. Netanyahu also reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to the goals of sustainable development.

“We must learn to do more with less, and Israel is a small country with big ideas. I believe it is not enough that we have those ideas or apply them only to our country, we are eager to share them with you,” he said.

Ikililou Dhoinine, president of the Indian Ocean island nation of Comoros, said: "We are not able to finance basic investments as a result of our modest resources...we must accept the reality that climate change is progressing more quickly than international climate change negotiations. We must therefore act differently. Time is running out. The entire world is placing its hope in us. This is the only chance we have to save our planet so let us seize the opportunity before it is too late."

Indonesia's president, Joko Widodo, says his country is committed to reducing its emissions by 29 percent, or by 41 percent with assistance from developed countries. 

Widodo says this will be achieved by reallocating fossil fuel subsidies, increasing the proportion of renewables in the energy mix to 23 percent by 2025, and by converting waste to energy. 

He says the country has established a moratorium on new permits for peat land, which are desired by companies looking to create new plantations, including for palm oil.

The president of Kenya, Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta, says that although his country contributes just 0.1 percent of global emissions, the government has laid out a climate plan which maps out an expansion in solar, geothermal, and wind power.

This Ruptly video shows French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius and Britain's Prince Charles speaking at the summit earlier on Monday. 

Christopher J. Loeak, president of the Marshall Islands, says "COP21 must be a turning point in history," and "one that gives us hope."

He called for renewable energy instead of fossil fuels, and said the Paris deal must review targets every five years.

The Philippines is disproportionately affected by climate change, according to President Benigno S.Aquino III. He called for more climate finance for small island states and vulnerable nations.

The leader added that the Philippines is aiming to plant 1.5 billion trees by next year, which would save 30 million tons of carbon annually. He said renewables account for 33 percent of the country's energy.