Key quotes from Obama speech to climate conference

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-12-18 20:45

President Barack Obama says that the world's will to address climate change "hangs in the balance" and insists any deal must include transparency among nations.

The U.S. leader said on Friday that a changing environment is an unacceptable risk to nations' security, their economies and the planet.

He says countries must work together on national actions and keep checks on those commitments. Obama says a deal that does not include sharing information would be a "hollow victory."

He also says industrialized nations must help developing nations adapt.

Obama called the emerging agreement imperfect but adds that no country would get everything it wants. He says time is running short and it is time to take a "substantial step forward."

The following are key quotes:

"I'm confident that America will fulfill the commitments that we have made: cutting our emissions in the range of 17 percent by 2020, and by more than 80 percent by 2050 in line with final legislation."

"America is going to continue on this course of action no matter what happens in Copenhagen."

"We must have a mechanism to review whether we are keeping our commitments, and to exchange this information in a transparent manner. These measures need not be intrusive, or infringe upon sovereignty. They must, however, ensure that an accord is credible, and that we are living up to our obligations. For without such accountability, any agreement would be empty words on a page."

America will be a part of fast-start funding that will ramp up to $10 billion in 2012. And, yesterday, Secretary Clinton made it clear that we will engage in a global effort to mobilize $100 billion in financing by 2020, if - and only if - it is part of the broader accord."

"This is not fiction, this is science. Unchecked, climate change will pose unacceptable risks to our security, our economies, and our planet."

"Here is the bottom line: we can embrace this accord, take a substantial step forward, and continue to refine it and build upon its foundation."