Talks collapsing? Copier shortage blamed

"I am very concerned by the pace of things," was Yvo de Boer's sobering assessment of the state of play at lunchtime today.

De Boer is worried that so many issues are now linked that the ‘whole house of cards could fall to pieces' as the negotiations get frenzied over the next couple of days. There's also a chance that inadequate logistics could play a role...

He set a midday deadline for concluding negotiations, saying that text would need to be translated into six official languages. The documents would then have to be copied (and photocopies are said to be thin on the ground) in time for approval in plenary later on in the day.

A ‘friends of the chair' group has been convened by the President - basically a small group of Ministers that is charged with picking up the pace. It will meet again at 3 o'clock to review progress on the outstanding contentious issues.

It's a critical point. If things haven't moved by then, we could be in for a very long night...