Quotes from first day of Paris climate conference

PARIS – A sample of quotes from the first day of U.N.-organized climate talks outside Paris being attended by 151 heads of state and government, more than two weeks after attacks in the French capital that killed 130 people.

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"What greater rejection of those who would tear down our world than marshaling our best efforts to save it?" — President Barack Obama.

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"What is at stake with this climate conference is peace. The fight against terrorism and the fight against climate change are two major global challenges we must face." — French President Francois Hollande.

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"The consequences of climate change are already being felt by the world's poorest and most vulnerable communities. It is crucial that any new global agreement emphasizes the need to support these communities to become more resilient and reduce the climate risks they face." — International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Secretary-General Elhadj As Sy.

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"With 1 million matches played every year, 3 millions of kilometers (1.9 million miles) traveled every weekend, it is also football's responsibility to contribute to limit the impact of this activity on the environment." — French football federation.

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"The challenge is to save ourselves, not someone else, but ourselves." — Peter M. Christian, president of Micronesia, one of several small island nations threatened by rising sea levels.

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"Addressing climate change should not deny the legitimate needs of developing countries to reduce poverty and improve living standards." — Chinese President Xi Jinping.

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"I urge you to consider the needs of the youngest generation, because none of us has the right to assume that for our today they should give up their tomorrow." — Prince Charles, heir to the British throne.

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"Advertising is the engine of consumerism, telling us to buy more and more things regardless of the environment impact." — Peter Marcuse, a member of the U.K.-based Brandalism network of artists involved in a protest campaign.

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"Biofuels, carbon capture, high wind, fission, fusion — we're unbiased but it has to be clean and possible to scale up cheaply." — Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, who along with other investors is pledging $7 billion for research and development of clean energy.

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"The future of the people of the world, the future of our planet, is in your hands. We cannot afford indecision, half measures or merely gradual approaches. Our goal must be a transformation." — U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.