CAPP: Canada can be a climate change leader

Coming out with a statement after two days of deliberations at its biennial summit, the Commonwealth referred to the “disproportionate” burden on least-developed countries and small island states in tackling climate change and sought assistance for them, a view shared by India.

Yesterday, thousands turned out for climate change marches across the Asia-Pacific region, part of a weekend of action across the globe to demand results from the Paris summit.

“Thirty-one of our 53 members are small states and 25 are small island developing states, which are most vulnerable to climate change”, said Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma.

“Man is the worst enemy of man”, said Hollande. “It is therefore up to human beings to face up to their responsibilities”, he added.

The Commonwealth meeting – which Dion likened to “training camp – was clearly being used as a springboard to the Paris talks”.

United Nations General Secretary Ban Ki-moon has said that he is hopeful of an ambitious universal agreement at the Paris Climate Summit. “It represents a doubling of Canada’s previous climate announcement”, Environment Minister Catherine McKenna said during a teleconference. “These are all really significant actions and I think Alberta will be applauded for them”, said Smith, who will also attend the Paris conference.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the leader of the most populous Commonwealth country with an exponentially growing appetite for coal-fired electricity generation, is taking a pass on this year’s Commonwealth meeting amid concerns that the developing subcontinent poses a major obstacle to a comprehensive climate deal.

Malta is hosting the summit for a second time.

Boosting counter-extremism operations is top of his agenda for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm), which is held every two years.

Trudeau met outside the conference with Prince Charles and the prime minister is to deliver the toast to the Queen at the Friday night leaders’ dinner.

Queen Elizabeth II, center, takes a boat trip across Valletta Harbor, Saturday, Nov. 28, 2015.

“On that cool day in April, seated next to you, was my father”, said Trudeau, 43.

Trudeau, the center-left son of former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, is a former actor, teacher and model who won a resounding majority win despite limited political experience. Trudeau recalled the monarch’s many visits to his country, saying she had “seen more of Canada than most Canadians”. “I am your twelfth”. “We know we can do more and we will do more”.