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Business Leaders at COP21

A coalition of business leaders has challenged negotiators at COP 21 to limit warming to 1.5 degrees. The corporate leaders, members and supporters of the B Team, a coalition of chief executives from Virgin, Marks and Spencer, Puma, L'Oreal and Unilever, were unanimous in their demand that governments should aim for a stronger target than the agreed goal of 2C.

ICELI Declaration to Paris Talks

 This ICLEI Declaration was adopted unanimously at the Joint Meeting of the ICLEI Council and ICLEI Global Executive Committee at Paris City Hall on 6 December 2015
 
In these days, the world anxiously follows your national and global efforts to collectively agree on an ambitious and inclusive global Paris Climate Package as the outcome of COP21.

New Climate Coalition

A coalition representing more than 100 countries, formed in secrecy six months ago, has emerged at Paris to push for a legally binding global and ambitious deal on climate change. The “high ambition coalition” speaks for the majority of the 195 countries at COP 21 and includes 79 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries, the US and all of EU member states. But notable exceptions include major developing countries such as China and India.

Proud to be Canadian

Canada's environment minister told her Paris colleagues that she wants the agreement to restrict planetary warming to 1.5 degrees Celesius warming. Canada supports legally binding provisions, and McKenna stated we are committed to following through. She wants a five-year review, that is  'ambitious' and 'accountable'. And crucially, “the most important thing is that each country should be legally required to submit a target.

A Concert for Climate Change

Now home with my beloved dogs and the other two-legged being I live with. The concert last evening was truly magical, some artists I knew but two others I did not. So, Patti Smith, Rebecca Foon’s wonderful music I knew but I didn’t know nor understand Flea or Thom Yorke’s music. It is generational, I am a product of the sixties, a Clapton, Deep Floyd, Beatles, Dylan, Cohen, Peter, Paul and Mary, Mick Jagger and many others, so many memories.

Leaving COP 21

I am just leaving Paris for home, and it has been an interesting journey being here after the attacks and the tension throughout the city. The leadership of President Hollande and the French government is absolutely outstanding and many are hopeful that they can bridge the traditional divides. Our French hosts have given negotiators a deadline tomorrow to come up with a draft text that ministers will debate from Monday onwards during the second week of COP.

Canadian Physicians Step Up

An open letter from Canadian physicians calls on Trudeau's government to make the following commitments.

1. Adopt a strong, universal and ambitious global climate agreement at COP21 in which the protection and promotion of health is a central principle.

2. Integrate health considerations into all national planning processes regarding climate mitigation and adaptation.