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Ban Ki-moon
United Nations Secretary-General
"I was heartened to hear that a growing number of leaders are prepared to move beyond purely national perspectives to global leadership. You have undertaken to remain engaged until a deal has been sealed in Copenhagen. And you have agreed to give guidance to your negotiators to work toward an ambitious, effective and fair deal in Copenhagen. Your words have been heard around the world. Let your actions now be seen. There is little time left. The opportunity and responsibility to avoid catastrophic climate change is in your hands."
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Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Prime Minister
Denmark
"I will invite all Heads of States and Governments to engage in the process ahead with a view to concluding a political agreement in Copenhagen.That will be a proper answer to the call for action by science. That will be a proper answer to the call for clarity from industry. And that will be a proper answer to the call for responsibility from our citizens."
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Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President
Indonesia
"Some two years ago, Indonesia was honoured to host the Bali Climate Conference that produced, after dramatic twists and turns, the historic Bali Action Plan.Now we must complete that journey. The Copenhagen conference must conclude with an agreement that ensures a secure climate future for us all. Remember: "We can negotiate about the climate, but we cannot negotiate with the climate." We cannot ask the climate for more time. Copenhagen is our time to seize the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to launch the post 2012 climate agreement."
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Desmond Tutu, Archbishop
South Africa
"Science has spoken on the urgent need to tackle the challenge of climate change. Now it is time to listen to our consciences. There is a clear moral imperative to tackle the causes of global warming. Worldwide, we have the chance to start turning the tide of climate change, but only if all governments commit themselves to a fair, binding and sustainable climate agreement in Copenhagen."
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Barack Obama, President
United States of America
"It is true that for too many years, mankind has been slow to respond or even recognize the magnitude of the climate threat. It is true of my own country,as well. We recognize that. But this is a new day. It is a new era. Each of us must do what we can when we can to grow our economies without endangering our planet -- and we must all do it together. We must seize the opportunity to make Copenhagen a significant step forward in the global fight against climate change. We also cannot allow the old divisions that have characterized the climate debate for so many years to block our progress."
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Hu Jintao
People's Republic of China
"I am convinced that as long as we adopt a responsible attitude towards our respective countries and mankind as a whole, proceed from the present reality while looking ahead to the future, uphold the UNFCCC and its Kyoto Protocol as the primary channel, stay committed to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and the mandate of the Bali Road map, we will make the Copenhagen conference a new milestone in international cooperation on climate change. China stands ready to join hands with all countries to build an even better future for the generations to come."
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Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of California
United States of America
"There is no single issue that threatens the health and prosperity of our nations and humanity more than climate change. That is why leaders from around the world are gathering in Copenhagen - to create and strengthen critical partnership sand to launch a green revolution. We come from so many different places, and we speak many different languages, but we're beginning to speak with one voice about our common goal - to protect our planet."
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Mohamed Nasheed, President
Republic of Maldives
"From now on, we will no longer be content to shout about the perils of climate change. Instead, we believe our acute vulnerability provides us with the clarity of vision to understand how the problem can be solved; the objectivity to say that it is in all of our interests to aggressively pursue that solution; and the courage and determination to lead by example by walking the path ourselves.In return, we ask assembled world leaders to discard those habits that have led to twenty years of complacency and broken promises on climate change, and instead to seize the historic opportunity that sits at the end of the road to Copenhagen."
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Ratnasiri Wickramanayake, Prime Minister
Sri Lanka
"Let us make a commitment today that we will cease to discuss the climate change problem in a theoretical manner at endless conferences and begin to adopt practical measures with a view to resolving it to the best of our abilities.It is my hope that we will be able to leave behind a liveable land for our children and their children."
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