COP21 was winding down on Friday, December 11, but excitement was in the air as promise of a first-ever global climate agreement neared its dramatic conclusion.
On the way in to the Le Bourget conference site that day I shared an electric car ride with Juliana Phillip from the negotiating team for the EU.
As we discussed the outcome of the conference, I was interested to hear the perspective of someone “on the inside” of the negotiating rooms.
As we walked down the “Champs de Elysées” at Le Bourget, Ms. Phillip commented how interesting it had been to watch the negotiations play out over the proceeding weeks and months, culminating in the present moment that chilly Friday morning.
As we parted ways, we both commented on how it demonstrated the Art of the Possible.
Indeed, the Paris Agreement signed at COP21 is far from perfect, but it was also a momentous step forward. When I arrived back home the next day, I wrote COP21, the Paris Agreement and the Art of the Possible.