The global epicenter of climate change talks moved this year from Paris, the city of sweet macarons, to Marrakech, a place scented with the mild aroma of mint tea.

Leaving French patisseries may seem a hardship, especially for those feeling pessimistic about the Marrakech Climate Change Conference, in which nations are working out the details of how they would keep their Parisian promises.

But a landmark event just a day after the conference opened, the election of Donald Trump on Tuesday as the next US president, changed things. A sense of urgency picked up, given Trump's vow to unravel the Paris accords.

A group of young environmental activists protested outside the meeting pavilion soon after the election results came in, urging Trump to pursue climate justice. There was a sense that it would be difficult for Trump to reverse the gains made.

Even if prospects for the Marrakech meeting to produce binding agreements are unclear, delegates are busy refining implementation road maps and trying to unlock private investment.

When I stepped out of the pavilion late one night, a senior official told me that there should not be too much to worry about.

"You just need some sweets at the end of the day," she said, "and then I will continue my negotiations and you continue to do your interviews tomorrow."