COP 21: 12 things we've learnt from the Paris Summit so far

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From James Hansen's blasting of UK fracking plans to the COP21 meditation room, it has been an eventful few days

7. The late night talks have already started.

After the fanfare of world leaders all turning up to back action on climate change, the real work has started on getting a new deal - and there are fears the unwieldy negotiation process of the UN climate talks could itself pose one of the biggest risks to securing an agreement. Meetings are already running into the early hours and, as always, observers say progress on slimming down the text has been slow.

8. "Informal informals" are now a thing.

The French hosts have orchestrated new ad-hoc groups of negotiators getting together in rooms or quiet corners of the cavernous conference centre to discuss the nitty gritty of the deal.

9. Africa has its eye on massive expansion of renewable energy.

Plans are being mooted for 300GW of African renewables deployment - or twice as much as its total power supplies - to be delivered in just 15 years. Described as a "game changer" for the continent the aim is to get 10GW of new renewables by 2020, and then really let the sector fly by mobilising 300GW by 2030.

10. There is space to 'chill'.

The UK government delegation offices are opposite the meditation room, which may come in handy when things get stressful towards the end of the two weeks of negotiations.

11. The UK is "screwing its children" by advancing the fracking industry.

That's according to leading climate scientist Dr James Hansen, who also revealed the UK has produced the most carbon dioxide per capita since before the industrial revolution.

12. It's building day.

Buildings are slowly climbing up the climate agenda and for the first time a dedicated Buildings Day is being held at the COP, today. Buildings currently use about 40 per cent of the world's energy and contribute to a third of the planet's greenhouse gas emissions.

This article is part of BusinessGreen's Road to Paris hub, hosted in association with PwC.

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