Gallery: A Guided Tour of the Very French Climate Talks in Paris

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    12301403-779113288884037-345890411-n(1)

    COP 21's entrance, behind the Orchard of Nations (unofficial name).
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    02

    champs-elysse

    Champes Élysées, the main thoroughfare at COP 21, runs between the six large buildings that house the conference's various aspects.
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    America1

    I like to call Hall 2 the Warehouse of Nations, because many countries host pavilions there. The US pavilion is so big, you need a panoramic lens to see all of it.
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    india-at-paris

    India's pavilion has a fountain that drops patterns of water that spell out messages. It's quite mesmerizing in person.
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    China

    The guiding aesthetic around COP 21 is particleboard.
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    Cafe-warehouse of nations

    Café culture in the Warehouse of Nations is always vibrant.
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    Gulf Cooperation Council

    The Gulf Cooperation Council's HQ would probably win Best in Show, if such an award existed for the pavilions in the Warehouse of Nations.
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    nice-carpet

    The furnishings inside the Gulf Cooperation Council's pavilion are among the swankiest in the Warehouse of Nations.
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    Indonesia

    Unlike many of the other countries with enclosed pavilions, Indonesia decided to decorate their particleboard walls.
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    Korea - CCS

    South Korea's pavilion at the Warehouse of Nations (officially, Hall 2) has some pretty cool miniatures on display. This one shows a make believe coal factory that captures carbon emissions and stores them underground.
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    wine-lunch

    Because this is France, you can grab a glass of wine with your 11am snack.
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    crepes

    Because, France.
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    NGO-coffee

    Hall 4 houses NGOs, indigenous groups, and other groups trying to bring attention to various climate related issues. Also, espresso carts.
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    Journalists

    Hall 5 houses the floorspace, power outlets, and espresso bars that keep the monstrous COP 21 press corps working. This is downstairs at the press center.
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    journalists2

    Deadlines, man... Upstairs at the press center.
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    cafe-overhead

    One of the advantages of sitting in the press area's upper level is being able to check out the lines at the cafés below.
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    headphones

    These radios tune into channels featuring different language translations. You know, because of the whole UN thing.
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    translate

    It is important that you do not forget your interpretation headset when you head into a press briefing, even if you are the one onstage.
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    19

    Hall 1

    Hall 1 is arguably the most important building at COP 21. That's because it's the headquarters of both the French and UNFCCC. Unsurprisingly, it's also off limits without an appointment.
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    Lounge

    Hall 1 has the nicest lounges, because it houses both the UNFCCC and French headquarters. Journalists are not allowed in here without an appointment, but I don't speak French so I kept getting lost whenever the guards ordered me to leave.
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    21

    Gal-Negotiation-room

    Most of the negotiations take place in Hall 6. Journalists aren't allowed in the rooms when negotiations are in session. They are merely scowled at when the rooms are not in use.
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    22

    eiffel

    A model Eiffel Tower stands at the far end of COP 21's Champs Élysées, seen here looking back at COP 21.
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