Photo Gallery Hot Air in Cancun
The United Nations Climate Change Conference in Cancun, which is due to finish on Dec. 10, has been attended by representatives from 194 countries. Greenpeace's "Sinking Icons" was just one of many protest activities by NGOs and environmental groups on the sidelines of the conference.
Bolivian President Evo Morales enjoys a hero's welcome Friday, complete with waving flags, flowers and music, at a meeting of Via Campesina, a Latin American NGO. Thousands of indigenous people, farmers and laborers cheered as he spoke of the challenges of bringing about change and claimed capitalism was the cause of the climate crisis as well as the financial, food and energy crises. The left-wing president's rousing speeches and outspoken views stood in dramatic contrast to the generally apathetic and stubborn atmosphere amongst the participating countries.
One of the stands promoting green energy at the Climate Change Village in Cancun: The village was created by the Mexican government as a place where NGOs could stage debates and the public could check out exhibitions on climate change and clean energy.
"No to transgenetic corn," reads the banner, part of the Via Campesina protest march. Thousands of activists and peasants from all over the world marched to the accompaniment of drums and flutes from central Cancun to the luxury hotel where the conference was being held.
Todd Stern, the US special envoy for climate change, speaks at a press conference during the Climate Change Conference. The US government faced accusations that it is not taking action to combat global warming, despite being one of the largest global producers of CO2 in the atmosphere.
Bavarian Environment Minister Markus Söder poses in a fetching sombrero at the Climate Change Conference. Instead of viewing climate change as a dark threat, countries like Germany say they are ready to find the positive opportunities in environmental challenges.
The Sierra Club is America's oldest and largest grassroots environmental organzation. This protest action is intended to tell the world leaders gathered in Cancun that they are avoiding the issue of climate change. It looked unlikely that world leaders would reach an agreement on binding measures to replace the climate targets set in the Kyoto Protocol, which is set to expire in 2012.
Mexico's President Felipe Calderon gives a speech in Cancun. Overall expectations of what could be achieved at the Cancun summit were low after last year's disastrous summit in Copenhagen.
A Greenpeace hot air balloon floats over a pyramid in Chichen Itza, Mexico. The effects of climate change are already visible around Cancun, where mangrove swamps that used to stretch along the lagoon are disappearing at a rate of 500 hectares every year.
British artist Jason de Caires Taylor created this underwater scultpure for the Subaquatic Museum in Cancun. Called "The Silent Evolution," the 400 life-sized figures are made of natural materials and placed near the natural reefs and close to marine life habitats to create a natural ecosystem.
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon speaks at a press conference in Cancun. He expressed concern that global efforts in cutting carbon emissions have so far been insufficient and said that the world cannot afford the luxury of waiting for the perfect agreement.
Activists wearing masks depicting US President Barack Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan protest against global environmental policies in Mexico City on Dec. 1.
This photo shows an indigenous woman from Chiapas State in Mexico preparing food at the inauguration of the Global Forum for Life, Environmental and Social Justice in Cancun. The opening ceremony was led by Guatemalan and Mexican Mayans, who asked the Earth to ensure that world leaders did not make decisions that caused more damage and made offerings of fruit, candles and flowers.
WWF activists create an Earth out of candles on the beach as part of their demonstration at the summit.
Via Campesina held one of the most dramatic and colorful protest marches in Cancun. The NGO was highly active during the conference, organising marches, meetings and the inaugration of the Global Forum for Life, Environmental and Social Justice.
The European commissioner for climate action, Connie Hedegaard, warned of the consequences should the summit fail, and stressed the importance of making the process work.
