No time to waste - and see the sun

Vienna is beautiful, but the Austrian Centre Vienna - the conference centre where some 1000 delegates this week are negotiating on climate change - is not. For the rest of this week, I will be stuck inside, in non-descript rooms with no windows. At least this morning the sun was shining as we stood outside to welcome delegates with a balloon, a banner and a chocolate bar. The cholocate was a gift - but also a reminder that real progress on climate change commitments will need to be the result of this week in Vienna - if we are to avoid the Road to Hell. Climate delegates are used to being harassed (and indeed to being given gifts), of course; so the whole thing was a good-natured affair with people stopping for a chat and our 300 chocolates disappearing quickly. Let's hope the delegates remember what they need to do once they have finished their chocolates ...