Almost 150 heads of state, including David Cameron, Barack Obama and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, are heading to Paris for the start of the most important environmental meeting for decades.

Ahead of the summit, more than 175 countries have tabled pledges (known as intended nationally determined contributions, or INDCs) to cut their carbon emissions which, if enacted, would be enough to limit global warming to 2.7C. But the United Nations has pledged to limit climate change to 2C – and would much prefer it to be 1.5C.

This means there is much work to be done in Paris. Although nobody is expecting an agreement that will guarantee to limit global warming to 2C, the UN climate chief Christiana Figueres is determined to enshrine a process that paves the way for the world to be able to meet that target further down the line. Here are some of the different interest groups and what they want from Paris:

Kevin Anderson: Professor of energy and climate change at the University of Manchester

“I judge that the best Paris can now deliver is a very slim chance of staying below 2C. And if 2C is to be anything more than a rhetorical excuse for another international jamboree, Paris needs to deliver rates of mitigation far beyond the unscientific and inequitable levels voluntarily offered by national governments [in their INDCs].”

A person dressed as a polar bear walks in Geneva on November 28, 2015 during a rally ahead of the UN climate summit COP21 (AFP)

Ben van Beurden: Chief executive of Shell

“We would very much like to see the 2C target being adopted. But more importantly, we would like to see adopted a sensible set of policies that will get us there, because just agreeing a target is not going to do the trick. An important element is to put a price on carbon [emissions] because that will enable – if the right price is set – the development of the technologies we are going to need if we do want to limit carbon emissions to be in line with the 2C scenario.”

Christiana Figueres: United Nations’ climate chief

“The collective impact of the national climate change plans is quite remarkable. Of course, it doesn’t mean we will get to 2C and that is where we ultimately need to get to, but it is certainly a departure from business as usual and it already points the way.”

Inconvenient art: contemporary artists weigh in on climate change Show all 12 1 /12 Inconvenient art: contemporary artists weigh in on climate change Inconvenient art: contemporary artists weigh in on climate change Edward Burtynsky

Manufacturing #17, Deda Chicken Processing Plant, Dehui City, Jilin Province, China, 2005

Chromogenic Colour Print

© Edward Burtynsky. Courtesy of Flowers, London Inconvenient art: contemporary artists weigh in on climate change Lucy + Jorge Orta

Antarctica Village - No Borders, Dome Dwelling, 2007

Coated polyamide, various textiles, nation flags, silkscreen print, second hand clothes, webbing, clips

150 x 180 x 180 cm

Courtesy Galleria Continua San Gimignano / Beijing / Le Moulin Inconvenient art: contemporary artists weigh in on climate change Gary Hume

The Industrialist, 2008

Marble

122 x 82 x 8 cm

© The artist, Photo: Stephen White, Courtesy Jay Jopling/ White Cube (London) Inconvenient art: contemporary artists weigh in on climate change Keith Tyson

Nature Painting

2008

Mixed media on aluminium

198 x 198 x 2.1cm Courtesy of the artist Inconvenient art: contemporary artists weigh in on climate change Yao Lu

Spring in the City

2009

C-Print

120 x 120 cm

Courtesy of the artist and Red Mansion Foundation Inconvenient art: contemporary artists weigh in on climate change Cornelia Parker

Heart of Darkness

2004

Charcoal from a Florida Wildfire (prescribed forest burn that got out of control)

323 x 396 x 323cm

Courtesy of the artist and Frith Street Gallery, London Inconvenient art: contemporary artists weigh in on climate change Darren Almond

Tide

2008

600 digital wall clocks, Perspex electro-mechanics, steel, vinyl, computerized electronic control system and components Courtesy of the artist and White Cube, London Inconvenient art: contemporary artists weigh in on climate change Antony Gormley's 'Amazonian Field'... Wonderful world, beautiful people. But can one look after the other? Courtesy of the artist and White Cube, London Inconvenient art: contemporary artists weigh in on climate change Adriane Colburn

Up From Under the Edge of the Earth

2009

Paper, aluminum, ink jet prints, video, mylar, mirrors

350 x 350cm Courtesy of the artist Inconvenient art: contemporary artists weigh in on climate change Mariele Neudecker

400 Thousand Generations, 2009

Steel, fiberglass, water, salt GAC100

153 x 113 x 55 cm

Courtesy the artist and Galerie Barbara Thumm, © the artist, Photo courtesy the artist Inconvenient art: contemporary artists weigh in on climate change Antti Laitinen

It's My Island I

Diasec mounted c-type print

115 x 115 cm

Image courtesy of NETTIE HORN , Photo: Antti Laitinen Inconvenient art: contemporary artists weigh in on climate change Mona Hatoum

Hot Spot, 2006

Mixed media. Stainless steel and neon tube

234 x 223 cm

David Roberts Collection, London

Craig Bennett: Chief executive, Friends of the Earth

“We do want to see a deal that would give confidence to people around the world – to investors, to communities – and spur greater action from governments around the world. But what we absolutely need to see is governments recognise in Paris the inadequacy and unfairness of the offers they’ve made – the INDCs that are currently on the table that quite simply don’t add up to big enough emissions cuts to stop dangerous climate change.”

Mauricio Yekuana: Spokesman of the Yekuana tribe in northern Brazil and southern Venezuela

“This is very worrying for us indigenous people [to be sidelined in the summit]. We think about the future and the conservation of nature and we keep our forest standing because it gives us life. It’s very important that indigenous people participate in the summit because it’s the small things that can make a difference while the big companies are just destroying things. Our voice must be heard because we indigenous peoples know how to look after nature.”

21 effects of Climate Change

Piyush Goyal: Minister for power, coal, new and renewable energy, India

“As a developing nation we would expect the Paris climate agreement to be in accordance with the principles of common but differentiated responsibilities and equity. Developed countries should undertake larger emission cuts and provide adequate finance and technology to help developing nations fight climate change. The principle of ‘Polluter Pays’ must be respected during the climate change talks.”

Rhian Kelly: Director of business environment policy at the Confederation of British Industry

“Business and industry are part of the solution – developing innovative new products and services and leading the way in cutting emissions. Firms need confidence to invest in this future, though, so the climate change conference is a golden opportunity to create the long-term frameworks that businesses crave. This means a clear sense of direction, support for carbon pricing that can drive investment and getting finance and technology flowing.”

Dunya Maumoon: Minister of foreign affairs, Maldives

“The Paris climate change negotiations have taken on a new meaning – and importance – in the aftermath of the tragic attacks earlier this month. Climate change, like terrorism, is a global challenge and demands global co-operation to solve. Already, extreme weather events have disrupted lives and livelihoods, particularly in low-lying island nations like mine. The Paris agreement must therefore address the full scope of the crisis, beginning with ambitious commitments from all parties to slash emissions coupled with a robust process to drive bolder actions in line with keeping temperatures below 1.5C.”

Damon Albarn, Margaret Atwood, Chris Martin, Steve Coogan: Creatives collectively calling on the UN climate change summit to agree:

“A legally robust and accountable global climate governance framework and implementation strategy that we will be able to support. Financial mechanisms to stimulate extensive infrastructure for poorer nations and significant investment in low carbon infrastructures.”

Benny Peiser: Director of the Global Warming Policy Forum