Saving the Future: Paris 2015 and the UNFCCC negotiations begin without a Libdem Secretary of State at their heart

For the first time in five years, the UNFCCC negotiations that are about to start in Paris will have an EU delegation without a UK Libdem secretary of state at the fore. Chris Huhne and Ed Davey are credited with significant impact in previous meetings, coming from a Green Liberal Democrat tradition of coalition building and intelligent compromise with creative, practical solutions.

We now have to rely on other Liberal players in Europe to preserve an internationalist, positive approach to solving the greatest crisis of our time. It is now clear that we cannot rely on Amber Rudd to do anything but peddle Osborne's gas.

Reassuringly we have a Liberal US President in Obama who will do everything he can to sideline his denialist Republican detractors, and strong moves from the large players, China, India and the rest, supported by immense pressure from the business world, most notably the insurance companies who have long understood the growing risks to the economy from Climate Change.

We also have, miraculously, a Liberal Canadian government determined to put their predecessor's recidivism over Kyoto in the bin, and row back on the Albertan Tar Sands rush.
With El Nino sharpening people's attention on weather disasters and the difference between the surface temperature record and the reality of rapidly accumulating global heat in the oceans, it is clear that the few remaining voices of denial are not going to be heard. Science and practical, urgent reality are pushing the leaders of 190 countries to work towards an agreement that commits them to real emissions cuts on a schedule that will save the ecosphere from the worst case scenario.

We follow the developments with keen interest and direct first-hand experiences over the next two weeks. Watch this space.