Activists Paint Massive Sun On Paris Streets To Push For Renewable Energy Policy

As the climate conference in Paris winds down, activists want France to take renewable energy more seriously.

Climate activists gathered Friday morning to give COP21 negotiators a little encouragement and send a message to the French government: get France to commit to producing 100 percent renewable energy by 2050.

Environmental group Greenpeace commissioned 80 activists from Germany, France and Belgium to paint a large, yellow sun on Paris' Etoile -- the roundabout that encircles the Arc de Triomphe.

They used washable paint that isn't environmentally harmful, Greenpeace said.

Activists also scaled the Arc de Triomphe, holding up yellow signs that read: "Mr. Hollande, renew energy."

Police eventually arrested about 70 people, according to Greenpeace.

An activist from environmental group Greenpeace holds a banner reading: "Mister Hollande, renew energy," at the top of the Arc de Triomphe during a protest on the Champs-Elysées in Paris on Dec. 11, 2015. The protest is one of many activist actions linked to the COP21, the United Nations Climate Change Conference.
An activist from environmental group Greenpeace holds a banner reading: "Mister Hollande, renew energy," at the top of the Arc de Triomphe during a protest on the Champs-Elysées in Paris on Dec. 11, 2015. The protest is one of many activist actions linked to the COP21, the United Nations Climate Change Conference.
Christophe Ena/Associated Press

Diplomats at COP21 -- also known as the United Nations climate change conference -- extended negotiations on a final climate framework for one extra day.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Friday that how extensive the accord should be and who would incur the financial costs associated with global warming are still points of contention.

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