I love Paris. Thanks to my job I am fortunate enough to travel there several times a year. And I would like to offer a few words of advice to those attending (or planning to attend) the Climate Conference (COP 21) later this year.
Many tourists come to Paris with an idealized and romanticized notion of what the city will be like. And of course, the City of Lights is indeed a special place. But it is also a 'real' city, with real inhabitants, real businesses, real issues (like air pollution), etc. And those who cannot reconcile the reality with their fantasies may find that it does not live up to their expectations.
In addition to being a great tourist destination, Paris is a center of commerce and business. From those selling trinkets at the Eiffel Tower and Sacre Coeur to those multinationals headquartered there, Paris understands business. And the climate meeting is about business (as well as government) doing its part of protect conditions on Earth. This is a serious business we are in; and that cannot be lost on those outside the meetings themselves.
Here then, my advice:
- People come to Paris to find, or rekindle, romance. And it is certainly a great city for that. But the COP meeting cannot be only about coming together for shared experiences with people who share the same values. It must appeal to more than just our hearts. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs tells us how important the 'social' aspect is but COP21 needs to avoid the impression that the meeting is nothing more than a giant boondoggle of wine, camaraderie and a good time, then the messages must be about more.