At the global climate summit in Paris, which began on Monday with a moment of silence for the victims of the Novermber 13 terror attack, heads of state have begun outdoing each other in calling for aggressive action for climate change. France's president Francois Hollande in his opening remarks at the Conference of Parties said the stakes had never been so high for the future of the planet. United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon followed suit urging political negotiators to follow a path of compromise and consensus because "a political moment like this may not come again".

Each of the 150 heads of state at the Le Bourget conference centre in north Paris will take the stage to talk up the actions of their own countries and seek more action from others. In reality, there are several sticking points that will come up during these tricky negotiations. Will the Paris outcome be legally binding? Will there be e regular review and update of emission reduction targets? Will developed countries provide climate finance to developing countries? Will rich countries help will the inevitable loss and damage that will occur in poor countries?

The fissures are already beginning to show. As Business Standard reported late on Sunday, a leaked confidential note from the United States delegation to select countries revealed that it wants successive climate action pledges to be left up to countries to decide individually and not through international negotiation. The US has also asked for differentiation to be shelved and that developed countries not bear the burden of historical responsibility. India is strongly against such a move and has consistently taken the stand that developed countries are enjoying the fruits of carbon-intensive industrialization, that they have been the major emitters in the past, and that developing countries now need their carbon space to develop.

The beginning of COP21 was also marred by violence on the streets of Paris on Sunday when thousands of protesters defied the state of emergency, declared after the terror attacks two weeks ago, and gathered to call on world leaders for strong action against climate change. When police tried to disperse the crowd, the protest turned violent. Some demonstrators threw beer cans and glasses at the police who retaliated with tear gas.

 

 

Earlier over the weekend thousands of shoes appeared in the Place de la Republique, on of the sites of the Paris terror attack, in a smart and symbolic gesture after city authorities refused permission for a climate march. More than 400,000 people were expected to take part in the March. Instead, they left their shoes to march for them.

And yet, 10,000 activists managed to form a human chain through the lanes of Paris.

 

Meanwhile, art installations calling for climate action have taken over the city, like this wind turbine in Champs Elysees.

 


 

Inside the conference venue the India pavilion is attracting attention. India holds the key to the negotiations being a strong advocate for common but differentiated responsibility.  Last week, US secretary of state John Kerry singled India out as a "challenge" to a climate deal provoking outrage among Indian negotiators. India's environment minister Prakash Javadekar has clarified that India goes into the talks as a facilitator for an agreement but will not barter away the countries right to use coal for its growth.