How a 'typo' nearly derailed the Paris climate deal

A debate over the words 'should' or 'shall' in the final draft was passed off as an undetected error thanks to some timely French diplomacy

Could the fate of the world hang on a single word? Could the whole Paris climate agreement have been scuppered at the very last minute? History will record a diplomatic triumph but it may skate over events that took place in the dying moments when all countries believed they had a deal.

Here's what happened at the fortnight-long climate negotiations in Paris. Following a third all-night negotiating session, all countries on Saturday morning had been forced to compromise their positions by the French presidency.