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GUEST: Shannon Gibson teaches International Relations at the University of Southern California, she is heading to Paris shortly for COP21.

Now that the high-profile heads of state have made their pretty speeches to kick off the 2-week COP21 climate meeting in Paris, France, the real work of negotiating a global climate treaty begins. Country representatives are expected to engage in behind-the-scenes horse-trading with poor nations and especially vulnerable island nations, demanding ambitious goals.

Outside the meeting, where climate justice activists have traditionally held the delegates’ feet to the fire, this time around, when the stakes are higher than ever, protests have been banned. French President Francois Hollande, citing the recent Islamic State attacks in Paris, has banned organized marches and rallies.