For the first time in over 20 years of United Nations negotiations, COP 21 is expected to result in the adoption of a new worldwide climate change agreement in which all countries will commit to action. “It is yet another example that Canada is once again a serious player in the global fight against climate change”.
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French President Francois Hollande is to deliver an unusual address on climate issues to the Commonwealth meeting in advance of the Paris talks.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was greeted with applause by his fellow leaders when he announced Canada’s latest contribution toward an global climate fund seeking to raise $100 billionUS annually by 2020.
He told reporters he is hopeful for an agreement because of the progress made, but fears just a few countries will block it if they feel “there are not enough guarantees or they believe some of the obligations will slow down their development”.
In London on Wednesday, Trudeau said last week’s deadly gun-and-bomb attacks in Paris, claimed by the Islamic State group, had changed “the perception that Canadians had”.
“Man is the worst enemy of man”, said Hollande.
Earlier this year, former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced his government would commit 0 million to the Green Climate Fund. This announcement was not met favorably, considering Canada is the 10th wealthiest nation in the world, and that other countries have commitmed much more.
“What’s most important for Canada…is that we continue to be a strong player within the coalition against ISIL… also in terms of military engagement”, Trudeau said. We see it with terrorism. He also congratulated Prime Minister Trudeau for being appointed to office and said that the two certainly had “notes to share on that”.
Trudeau will leave the United Kingdom on Thursday for Valetta, Malta, where the 54-country Commonwealth grouping is holding its biennial leaders summit.
Canada’s newly elected Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrived in Malta for CHOGM today and had a meeting this evening with Prime Minister Joseph Muscat at the Auberge de Castille.
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The dashing Trudeau had toasted the Queen – in a long speech full of syrupy praise – and pointed out that his father Pierre was the fourth Canadian prime minister during her reign, and Trudeau himself the 12th.
