Many of us don’t realise that the 1.5° rise isn’t when things go wrong and the planet gets on fire. Earth is already on fire, but we can still save some of it. Beyond the 1.5° goal, there is no looking back.Anurag Saha Roy -Wikilimo; United Nations Competition Summer of Solutions Winner

Climate change is a reality and we already have it here. Scientists say that we are not aligned with a path that allows compliance with the Paris agreement. Climate change generates exponential problems that require exponential solutions.Carlos Sallé Alonso - Iberdrola

A significant acceleration of the global energy transformation is needed as energy-related CO2 emissions are rising. Policymakers must take swift and decisive action.Claire Kiss - International Renewable Energy (IRENA)

The future will be what we decide to do with it. Nothing is already written.Álvaro Rodríguez - Climate Reality Project General Coordinator in Spain

I think those at COP25 would do well in having children in mind when overwhelmed by the complexity of the solution. When I explained my 5-year-old twins why the planet is warming up, they had no doubt: “if we know it is because we are polluting, let’s just stop polluting.Adela Conchado - Far&Sound

The population is aware of climate change, but does not know how to act. We urgently need to change habits in our everyday life. As leaders, we must provide citizens with tools and example to help them in this challenge. Each gesture, however small, counts.Elena Moreno Zaldibar - Basque Government

Times have changed: society and youth worry about climate change and are asking governments to act. But finding solutions is not always easy. We, experts, are best placed to help bridging gaps and finding solutions.Lourdes Sanchez - IISD

Education is the start of the conversion to a civilization more respectful with the people and with the planet. And education starts in childhood, but does not end until the end of our lives.Susana Lagüera López - University of Salamanca

The best solutions of adaptation strategies to climate change will be born from the scientific endeavor to better understand the climate and social system. However, collaboration among scientists, decision-makers and stakeholders will be mandatory to properly focus the efforts of the former, and to successfully implement the strategies constructed among all of them.Manuel del Jesus - Instituto de Hidráulica Ambiental de la Universidad de Cantabria (IHCantabria)

Even if the best possible implementation of mitigation actions is achieved, adaptation will be an essential tool to cope with climate change impacts in the short- and the medium term.Manuel del Jesus - Instituto de Hidráulica Ambiental de la Universidad de Cantabria (IHCantabria)

Even if the best possible implementation of mitigation actions is achieved, adaptation will be an essential tool to cope with climate change impacts in the short- and the medium term.Manuel del Jesus - Instituto de Hidráulica Ambiental de la Universidad de Cantabria (IHCantabria)

We need to focus on Inclusion and accessibility when developing climate resilience. Remote, rural and poverty-laden communities are the most vulnerable to climate change but often have the least amount of access to technological advances.Anurag Saha Roy - Wikilimo; United Nations Competition Summer of Solutions Winner

Moving towards a greener economy is creating opportunities for new technologies, investment and jobs. At the same time, environmental change and in particular climate change has detrimental effects on certain economic sectors and can cause job losses. Identifying and providing the right skills for new and existing jobs can smooth transitions to greener economies and ensure that new opportunities benefit a broader share of society.Jorge Cattaneo - Ayuda en Acción

Climate change & inequities are linked: 1)most vulnerable people are experiencing the worst impacts of climate change 2)climate change is affecting the most in Global South countries, the poorer 3)inequity is intergenerational, our youth will be the most affected by our NO action.Fernando Mudarra - Ayuda en Acción

The transition to a low carbon economy has a big potential for job creation. A paradigmatic example can be found in naval shipyards that have managed to reinvent themselves by constructing different components of offshore wind power plants. This search for novel, imaginative and synergistic solutions is crucial.Carlos Sallé Alonso - Iberdrola

When we look at what is needed to meet climate and other sustainable energy goals, energy efficiency and renewables are among the central pillars. But we also need many other technologies to play a part in decarbonising different sectors of the economy. There is no single or simple way to transform global energy systems.Paul Simons, International Energy Agency (IEA)

Decoupling economic growth and greenhouse gas emissions has never been more urgent if the world is to meet the climate objectives of the Paris Agreement. This requires concerted action on clean energy transitions. Governments are more and more interested in designing and implementing ambitious climate mitigation policies and carbon pricing instruments to steer their economies onto low-carbon paths. I’m proud to be part of the IEA’s work supporting these governments by providing data, analysis and technical solutions.Luca Lo Re - International Energy Agency (IEA)

Subsidizing fossil fuels means using hundreds of billions USD of tax-payers’ money to fund climate change and air pollution. This money could be re-invested in the energy transition. This needs to be addressed in climate negotiations.Lourdes Sanchez - IISD

A large-scale shift to renewable energy and electrification could deliver three-quarters of the needed reduction, or as much as 90% with ramped-up energy efficiency. This transition to a climate-proof energy system will not only provide a solution to climate change, but also provide socio-economic benefits, such as increased GDP, jobs, and human health.Claire Kiss - International Renewable Energy (IRENA)

Tackling climate change will require a laser-like focus on reducing global emissions. For this, we think the world needs a grand coalition that covers governments, investors, energy companies and everyone who is genuinely committed to taking on this challenge.Paul Simons - International Energy Agency (IEA)

Many countries are interested in how international carbon markets can help them achieve and enhance their climate mitigation goals. The IEA and the OECD, help governments advance the discussions on markets under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement through technical analysis and by promoting dialogue to enhance understanding of key issues. An agreement on this at COP25 is important to complete the Paris Agreement implementation rulebook.Luca Lo Re - International Energy Agency (IEA)

We come from a world of transactional relationships between agents ("I give, you give me"), and we have to evolve into truly transformative relationships, where we all put, we all take risks, we share benefits, and we all aim at a higher goal, the transformation. Alliances are the new institutional infrastructures that we need to address complex problems that, today, do not have a possible technical solution through conventional projects.Carlos Mataix, Polytechnic University of Madrid