Local authorities are the real trailblazers in the fight against climate change

With cities and regions behind more than 70% of climate change reduction measures, it is crucial they're included as partners in the Paris agreement

Compared with previous UN conferences, there seems to be a far greater sense of optimism at the Paris climate talks. Before the start of the negotiations more than 146 countries, representing 86% of global emissions, submitted their plans to cut them. Yet this was deemed not enough: it would have only, according to the UNFCCC , limit temperature rises to 2.7C by 2100 - not the 2C scientists consider to be the maximum the world can tolerate.

Related: World will pass crucial 2C global warming limit, experts warn