Laurent Fabius, President of COP 21 and President of the Constitutional Council of France was on a whirlwind 24-hour visit to Glasgow, packed with meetings and interactions.

“It has been hectic and it reminds me of the Paris COP,” said Fabius adding with characteristic understated humour “which was not a total failure.”

During his day-long trip, the former French foreign minister met with people across the board. “I met Prince Charles, Alok Sharma, John Kerry – the United States’ special envoy to the COP – the Indian chief negotiator, Patricia Espinosa, Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish Prime Minister, the Egyptian representative – Egypt will host the COP27 – my friend Manuel Pulgar Vidal and obviously the French delegation.”

“It is not because I am a giant or superman. I am no longer in-charge of anything, it is only because having been involved in Paris and being considered as father of that agreement that people are kind enough to ask my advice,” said Fabius talking about his hectic schedule in Glasgow.

The man who stewarded more than 190-odd countries to come to an agreement say he views the Glasgow COP as an important moment. “Paris Agreement was a landmark COP and the Glasgow COP must be an accelerator of action”.

Fabius says that the general feeling he is getting at the Scottish Events Campus in Glasgow, the venue of the climate meet, is one of optimism.