Durban climate change conference in pictures: week one

South African dancers making a blue line lead during a 3km 'Walk for the Future' along Durban's beach front on 27 November before the opening of UN climate conference Photograph: Alexander Joe/AFP/Getty Images

Zulu members of The Trans African Climate Caravan of Hope chant slogans Photograph: Alexander Joe/AFP/Getty Images

South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, centre, listens as the former Irish President Mary Robinson speaks during a climate justice rally Photograph: Schalk van Zuydam/AP

Ladysmith Black Mambazo perform the COP17 official song Saving Tomorrow by Shumi featuring Reba Photograph: Rajesh Jantilal/AFP/Getty Images

President Jacob Zuma officially opening the conference held at Inkosi albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban Photograph: Elmond Jiyane/EPA

From left: Angolan vice president Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos, the president of the 16th Conference of the Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Patricia Espinosa Cantellano of Mexico (3rd left), South African President Jacob Zuma (centre), UN climate chief Christiana Figueres and Chadian President Idriss Deby Photograph: Mike Hutchings/Reuters

President Jacob Zuma talking to Christiana Figueres, the executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), during the officiall opening the conference Photograph: ELMOND JIYANE /GCIS/EPA

Greenpeace activists try to promote the use of renewable energy on the Durban beachfront Photograph: Alexander Joe/AFP/Getty Images

'Fossil of the Day': The award went to Canada after statements by their environment minister Peter Kent that they are coming to Durban to 'play hardball' with developing countries. ‘Emerging and developing countries need to stop 'wielding the historical guilty card' and asking for a free pass on emissions reductions just because in the past, industrialised countries had more emissions than the rest of the world’. Photograph: Sarah Rifaat/CAN International

From left to right: David Turnbull, CAN director, Rashmi Mistry, Oxfam, Mohamed Adow, Christian Aid, Tove Ryding, Greenpeace International discussing civil society reflections on the first day of COP17 Photograph: Ainhoa Goma/Oxfam

A view of the dais during a press conference when it was announced that Qatar will host COP18 and the Republic of Korea will host the pre-COP Photograph: IISD

Dessima Williams, representative of Grenada to the UN, holds a press conference with Al Binger (off camera), adviser to the small island developing states (SIDS) group on climate change, to discuss their position ahead of the conference Photograph: IISD

A woman passes a photographic print by Nigerian photographer George Osodi documenting gas flares in the Niger Delta part of the 'Dont Panic' exhibition at the Durban Art Gallery Photograph: Nic Bothma/EPA

Climate Justice Action activists protest outside the UN Climate Change Conference venue Photograph: Alexander Joe/AFP/Getty Images

A member of a civil society group looks at a banner during a sit-in outside the International Convention Centre to promote awareness of the civil society programmes Photograph: Nic Bothma/EPA

Delegates attending a climate change panel discussion Photograph: Nic Bothma/EPA

Head of the Polish delegation Tomasz Chruszczow (L) and European Union climate negotiator Artur Runge-Metzenger speak during a news conference. Europe is taking the toughest negotiating stand it has ever adopted on global warming Photograph: Rogan Ward/Reuters

An activist paints next to a poster during an Occupy COP17 protest Photograph: Nic Bothma/EPA