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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.

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.

Uruguay has made a dramatic shift to nearly 65% electricity from clean energy, read more here.  If you want to understand the difference between a 1 degree versus a 4 degree change, this

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.

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.

The Economist is stepping up to the plate, calling for a carbon tax. I have included their entire text  from their Chief Economist, Simon Baptist, below.

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.

This article by Bob MacDonald explains how a low-carbon future doesn’t mean losing our lifestyle. And just leaked,  Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates, U.S. President Barack Obama and French President Francois Hollande will announce a multinational plan to spend billions on clean energy technology.

7 in 10 Canadians now agree climate change seriously threatens the future of the planet, according to a new poll just released by Angus Reid. And ironically,  one of Canada’s foremost leaders, Maurice Strong died yesterday. His work laid the foundation to the landmark  climate summit in Paris that begins on Monday.

More and more people are now stepping up to the plate in novel ways. Jared Leto has joined forces with the Sierra Club, Environmental Media Association, RYOT (a virtual reality studio), to take viewers on a virtual tour  Alaska’s melting glaciers, in an effort to shed more light on the issues being faced by communities and landscapes so negatively affected by climate change.