Feted by Hollywood, city mayors take starring role in Paris climate talks

When Leonardo di Caprio and Robert Redford arrived at the UN Climate Conference, their first priority was to talk to city leaders. It's one indication of where the power to reduce climate emissions now lies, writes John Vidal

In the industrial northern suburbs of Paris, 195 countries are locked in talks to reduce national climate emissions. They sweat it out 24/7 in anonymous, hangar-sized buildings, protecting their interests, giving away as little as possible - exhausted by the 20-year struggle to make even marginal cuts.

Meanwhile in Paris's palatial Hitel de Ville, 450 mayors from around the world have been listening to movie stars like Leonardo di Caprio and Robert Redford. The mayors are confident, quaff the best wine and congratulate themselves on committing their cities to doing far more to combat climate change than any central governments could ever hope.