In Copenhagen the signs of the climate change summit are everywhere, at least in the public thoroughfares. In the center of the city, around the Kongens Nytorv, the posters were going up today: two-story high images of the Alps, another says ‘France is committed!’ On the weekend the lights on the giant Christmas tree in the city square will be lit: the power provided by volunteers cycling fifteen bicycles attached to a generator. In the harbour, an old warehouse that used to store whale products harvested from the north Atlantic has a cardboard ‘glacier’ attached to its façade: it looks kind of cheesy, and sends a strange message of glaciers in continental Europe, last seen in the Ice Age. Isn’t it about getting warmer?

The newspaper Politiken leads with the story of a stolen statue: ‘Piggyback Justica gone walkabout’ (Thursday 26 November). The statue depicts an obese goddess ‘Justica’ holding the scales of justice, and perched on the shoulders of an emancipated African man. The statue, by the sculptor Jens Galschiøtwas, for the duration of the Climate Conference, was placed next to the far more famous ‘Little Mermaid’ — who sits on a rock in the harbour.

There are concerns of other forms of activism during COP15, although the sense of police security is not intense. The only other upset this week has been the parents who stole all the toilet paper from the City Hall offices: they were not on about climate change however, rather protesting cutbacks to the schools budget.

Denmark now joins the other Scandinavian capitals in having its capital refer to an event: Stockholm has its Syndrome, Oslo its Accord: Copenhagen now has its Summit: ‘Copenhagen’ now refers to that place where nations head to deal with global environmental crises. Like school children heading towards assessment, most nations when asked about Copenhagen hold their heads low, some have excuse notes: some have done their homework at the last minute — they know it’s not great, but it’s better than the others. The road towards Copenhagen is taking on a metaphysical nature — on his Pilgrim’s Progress towards Copenhagen Malcolm Turnbull has entered a very dark and threatening valley where friends are now threatening figures shrieking in the night. Will he come out the other end? Is Copenhagen how he falls?

Back in Europe, delegates are quick to tell their press they are taking the train: not a bad option in Europe. Others like Rudd and Obama will fly in. It is beginning to feel as if it may be a bit of an event after all.

Meanwhile, tomorrow they will send someone into the harbor to find out if Justica was tipped into the murky water: perhaps the water just rose and engulfed her.