A polymer latex binder useful in a zero or low VOC latex coating composition comprising: a) a polymer which is a polymerization product of at least: i) at least one polymerizable polyalkylene glycol monomer corresponding to structural formula: R 1 - x -R 2 wherein R 1 is a first polymerizable moiety selected from the group consisting of (meth)acrylate, allyl, vinyl, maleate, itaconate and fumarate, X is a C 2 -C 3 divalent alkylene group, x is 2 to 50, and R 2 is H or CH 3; ii) at least one acrylic monomer which is copolymerizable with the polymerizable polyalkylene glycol monomer; iii) at least one polymerizable polyalkylene glycol monomer corresponding to structural formula: Ph- n -R 6 wherein Ph is a phenyl group substituted at the 2, 4 and 6 positions with groups R 3, R 4 and R 5 respectively, with R 3, R 4 and R 5 being independently selected from the group consisting of butyl, tert-butyl, isobutyl, -CH 2 -A, and -CH(CH 3)-A, where A is phenyl or cyclohexyl, wherein Y is a divalent hydrocarbon radical comprising a linear or branched alkylene radical having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms; wherein n is an integer of from 1 to 100; and wherein R 6 is a second polymerizable moiety selected from the group consisting of (meth)acrylate, allyl, vinyl, maleate, itaconate and fumarate; b) water; and c) at least one emulsifier; a) a polymer which is a polymerization product of at least: i) at least one polymerizable polyalkylene glycol monomer corresponding to structural formula: R 1 - x -R 2 wherein R 1 is a first polymerizable moiety selected from the group consisting of (meth)acrylate, allyl, vinyl, maleate, itaconate and fumarate, X is a C 2 -C 3 divalent alkylene group, x is 2 to 50, and R 2 is H or CH 3; ii) at least one acrylic monomer which is copolymerizable with the polymerizable polyalkylene glycol monomer; iii) at least one polymerizable polyalkylene glycol monomer corresponding to structural formula: Ph- n -R 6 wherein Ph is a phenyl group substituted at the 2, 4 and 6 positions with groups R 3, R 4 and R 5 respectively, with R 3, R 4 and R 5 being independently selected from the group consisting of butyl, tert-butyl, isobutyl, -CH 2 -A, and -CH(CH 3)-A, where A is phenyl or cyclohexyl, wherein Y is a divalent hydrocarbon radical comprising a linear or branched alkylene radical having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms; wherein n is an integer of from 1 to 100; and wherein R 6 is a second polymerizable moiety selected from the group consisting of (meth)acrylate, allyl, vinyl, maleate, itaconate and fumarate; i) at least one polymerizable polyalkylene glycol monomer corresponding to structural formula: R 1 - x -R 2 wherein R 1 is a first polymerizable moiety selected from the group consisting of (meth)acrylate, allyl, vinyl, maleate, itaconate and fumarate, X is a C 2 -C 3 divalent alkylene group, x is 2 to 50, and R 2 is H or CH 3; ii) at least one acrylic monomer which is copolymerizable with the polymerizable polyalkylene glycol monomer; iii) at least one polymerizable polyalkylene glycol monomer corresponding to structural formula: Ph- n -R 6 wherein Ph is a phenyl group substituted at the 2, 4 and 6 positions with groups R 3, R 4 and R 5 respectively, with R 3, R 4 and R 5 being independently selected from the group consisting of butyl, tert-butyl, isobutyl, -CH 2 -A, and -CH(CH 3)-A, where A is phenyl or cyclohexyl, wherein Y is a divalent hydrocarbon radical comprising a linear or branched alkylene radical having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms; wherein n is an integer of from 1 to 100; and wherein R 6 is a second polymerizable moiety selected from the group consisting of (meth)acrylate, allyl, vinyl, maleate, itaconate and fumarate; b) water; and c) at least one emulsifier;