The World People’s Conference on Climate Change and the Defense of Life has opened in Bolivia, ahead of the United Nations climate summit in Paris, which begins November 30. Bolivian President Evo Morales said the impact of climate changes is being felt around the world.

President Evo Morales: “As governments, we have the responsibility to submit a document to the United Nations called 'The National Predetermined Contribution from the Multinational State of Bolivia,' a document prepared by Bolivia to take care of the Mother Earth — la Pachamama — because what’s happening to the planet is very serious, sometimes with drought, other times extreme cold. In La Paz this year, there were times when we couldn’t tell if it was summer or winter, because it snowed all year long. This is happening all over the world.”

Ahead of the Paris climate talks, experts say the pledges made by countries around the world to cut carbon emissions will fall far short of what is needed to stop the Earth from warming beyond the globally agreed-upon limit of 2 degrees Celsius. That could put the Earth at risk of catastrophic sea level rises, food shortages and drought.