Commonwealth pushes for Paris deal

Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion and Catherine McKenna, the new Liberal environment and climate change minister, held a news conference Sunday at the government-run Canada Cultural Centre where the unbridled Canadian optimism briefly foundered on the question of whether a Paris climate deal will be legally binding.

“It wont be hurting economic opportunities in fact it’ll create more economic opportunities”. “We are very keen to create necessary trade infrastructure for ourselves and other small Commonwealth countries”, said Prime Minister Muscat.

Trudeau said national governments like his own also have a lot they can learn from cities, and from the provincial premiers who’ve accompanied him to these talks. “And all countries deserve the right to develop and this development can and should be base on access to clean energy technologies”.

Earlier Monday, Trudeau reiterated some of Canada’s emission targets, but how they will be achieved hasn’t yet been nailed down.

It’s the second time Trudeau has declined a meeting, the delegation said.

“We did it for our children, we did it for our children 100 years from now”, says T’Sou-ke Chief Gordon Planes. “We’re here to help”, Trudeau said in an eight-minute speech. So far, countries have committed $200 million (U.S.) to the fund in recognition that some countries will be hit hardest by climate-related drought, flooding and diseases that threaten food availability, human health and security. Australia, Britain and Canada pledged billions of dollars (euros) to help the Commonwealth’s weaker members.

French President Francois Hollande appeared to give his blessing to Canada’s proposed withdrawal of its fighter jets from the bombing campaign against Islamic militants after meeting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Sunday at the Elysee Palace.

Premiers Kathleen Wynne of Ontario, Rachel Notley of Alberta, Christy Clark of B.C. and Saskatchewan’s Brad Wall are also in Paris for Monday’s formal start of the COP21 worldwide climate negotiations, and will stop at the Bataclan to pay tribute later this afternoon. So, it will be India versus the West in the French capital for the next 10 days.

Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo are the latest major financial institutions to lower the financial support they provide to the coal industry. More countries are expected to join as the initiative grows.

He urged those around the table on Friday to sign up to the Commonwealth leaders’ climate change statement.

The group includes the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, African Development Bank and European Investment Bank. Quickly after that action is needed that begins to actually reduce emissions and helps Canadians adapt to the impacts of changes to the climate, according to Wade Luzny, CEO of Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF).

Trudeau announced in Malta last week that Canada will contribute $2.65 billion over five years to a climate adaptation and mitigation fund.

In Edmonton, People’s Climate March organizer Adam Stein tells Global News change is needed.