World leaders, politicians and delegates from nearly 200 countries are attending the United Nations COP27 climate summit in Egypt, where they hope to maintain the goal of avoiding the worst effects of climate change, Reuters reports.

Here are some recent comments from attendees:

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres

“Greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise. The global temperature continues to rise. And our planet is fast approaching tipping points that will make climate chaos irreversible.”

“We’re on the highway to climate hell with our foot on the accelerator.”

Kristalina Georgieva, Director General of the IMF

“If we don’t set a predictable carbon price on a trajectory that takes us to at least an average price of $75 per tonne of carbon in 2030, we simply won’t create an incentive for companies and consumers to change.”

United Arab Emirates – Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan

“The UAE is seen as a responsible energy supplier and will continue to play that role as long as the world needs oil and gas.”

William Ruto, President of Kenya

“The lengthy discussions at the COP with adjournments, stalling tactics and procrastination that have hindered implementation and achievement are simply cruel and unfair. We can’t afford to waste any more time sidestepping the real issues, and we need to get out of the open, process-focused discussions we’re trapped in.”

“In the face of a looming catastrophe, the warning signs of which are already unbearably catastrophic, weak action is unwise. Inaction is dangerous.”

Macky Sall, President of Senegal and the African Union

“Despite the fact that Africa accounts for less than 4% of greenhouse gases, it is committed to economic, climate-resilient development towards the goal of carbon neutrality in a reasonable time frame. We stand for a green, fair and just transition instead of solutions that threaten our development, including universal access to electricity, which 600 million Africans are deprived of.”

Mia Motley, Prime Minister of Barbados

“How can companies make $200 billion in profit in the last three months and not expect to contribute at least 10 cents of every dollar of profit to the loss and damage fund. This is what our people are waiting for.”

Former US Vice President Al Gore

“We all have trust issues: we talk and we start to act, but we don’t do enough.”

“We need to see the so-called ‘gas rush’ for what it really is: a rush for a bridge to nowhere, leaving countries around the world facing climate chaos and multibillion-dollar assets, especially here in Africa.”

“We have to get out of the era of fossil fuel colonialism.”

Emmanuel Macron, President of France

“Even if our world has changed, the issue of climate cannot be a balance in the war started by Russia on the territory of Ukraine (…) We will not sacrifice our climate commitments because of the energy threat of Russia, so all countries must continue to fulfill all their commitments knitting”.

Faustin Archangel Tuadera, President of the Central African Republic

“We must make it clear that the rich countries — the biggest polluters — are most to blame for the threat to humanity.”

Rishi Sunak, Prime Minister of Great Britain

“Climate security goes hand in hand with energy security, Putin’s disgusting war in Ukraine and rising energy prices around the world are no reason to slow down the pace of climate change. They are a reason to act faster.”

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