We’ve had a busy day in Copenhagen, soaking up the atmosphere in the numerous COP15 areas dotted around the city, chatting to Danish people about their views of climate change and even witnessing the more activist end of the climate change spectrum - a mock funeral for the American Dream. Have a look at the day 1 photos we took.

There’s a buzz about the city, undampened by the temperatures rapidly dropping to sub-zero levels. The people of Copenhagen are busy putting the final touches ahead of the start of the conference tomorrow, building exhibitions to engage locals andvisitors alike and generally going about their business in an extremely polite and professional manner.

They also appear to be building a fortress around the Bella Centre where the UN conference will be held - apparently someone is expecting the summit to turn into a warzone. This is disappointing given the central message that solutions to environmental degradation and climate change must be inclusive. Those who observe the dynamics of public protest around the world have noted a growing tendency for leaders to retreat behind closed doors and issue dictats from within their sealed chambers. Given that so many members of the public continue to be doubtful as to the science of climate change, you would have thought that a more open approach was one of the obvious changes  needed, regardless of the risks surrounding activist disruption and terrorism.

The subject of activism is one that came up today as we made our way around the Greenpeace campaign ship, Arctic Sunrise. We were shown a video portraying many years of Greenpeace activities relating to nuclear weapons, toxic waste, whaling etc - a portrayal of David against the Goliath of industry and pollution. Whilst it easy to see why many people object to the politics and tactics of activist organisations, one can’t help but feel grateful for the feats of daring carried out by them in attempting to protect our seas, forests and air from the effects of modern living.

The question in our mind continues to be when, if ever, the environmental movement will no longer be the exclusive preserve of activists, politicians and scientists. When will it move into the mainstream? The “funeral of the American Dream” was noteworthy for a small audience made up almost entirely of people who could quite possibly have been at Woodstock and the odd smattering of younger traveller types. It’s wrong to deny that there’s been any change in the composition of the environmental movement, but it needs to embrace a broader church.

We hope you enjoy the photos and will write again tomorrow with more substance from the first day of the conference.