The Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, is leading a team of international policy experts and climate specialists from the Commonwealth Secretariat to COP29. 

View the event schedule at the Commonwealth Pavilion and follow #CommonwealthForClimate on social media.

See daily highlights from the Commonwealth Secretariat at COP29 below 

Jump to:    Day 1    Day 2    Day 3    Day 4    Day 5    Day 6    Day 7    Day 8    Day 9

Day 12 - 22 November

On the final day of COP29 in Baku, the Commonwealth Secretary-General shared a video message on the progress achieved at COPs during her tenure and the Commonwealth's commitment to work towards a more just and sustainable world.

 

Day 11 - 21 November

On Day 11 of COP29, the Commonwealth Secretary-General highlighted the power of AI and geospatial data in accelerating nature-based solutions at a side event on Small Island Developing States’ ecosystems and communities.

One message that has resonated across the conference halls at COP29 is the urgent call for increased access to critical climate finance. 

The Commonwealth is home to 33 small states, 25 of which are Small Island Developing States (SIDS). These nations are on the frontlines of the battle against global warming, where unlocking vital funding is crucial to their recovery from climate-induced disasters.

Small island states praise Commonwealth for supporting climate justice

Day 10 - 20 November

In her high-level statement at COP29, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, called for urgent and decisive action to address the climate crisis.

The Secretary-General highlighted the Commonwealth's transformative climate initiatives, including the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub, Blue and Living Lands Charters, and CommonSpace.

She urged leaders to turn promises into action to deliver climate justice for small and vulnerable nations.
 

Day 9 - 19 November

On Day 9, the voices of the Indigenous Peoples of the Iwokrama Forest, one of the last pristine rainforests in the world, echoed through the hallways of COP29 - more than 6,500 miles from their native Guyana.

In partnership with Namibia and Seychelles, we hosted our official side event 'Indigenous and Local Knowledge in Climate Action: Building a Resilient Future for All'.

The event showcased the power of Indigenous knowledge, especially when combined with Western science, in unlocking solutions to the climate and biodiversity crisis.  

Guyana's Green Gold: The Iwokrama Forest’s success showcased at COP29

Panel at Iwokrama event
Group photo of panelists at the Iwokrama Forest event

Take only what you need: The success story of the Iwokrama Forest

Since 1996, the Commonwealth Secretariat has partnered with the Government of Guyana to support the Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation and Development.

Iwokrama serves as a model of how collaboration between Indigenous communities and global stakeholders can safeguard the world’s natural resources and biodiversity, ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.

Day 8 - 18 November

As COP29 entered its second week, the Commonwealth Secretary-General welcomed Commonwealth Secretariat staff, member countries and partners for a reception. 

She thanked them for their tireless efforts in advocating for a more sustainable and just world.

See highlights from the Commonwealth at COP29 on Flickr

SG reception
SG reception
SG reception

The Apia Commonwealth Ocean Declaration, adopted by the 56 member nations at CHOGM 2024, is one of the largest marine protection agreements.

The declaration is designed to protect the ocean in the face of severe climate change impacts, pollution and exploitation.

Watch this video to hear what this pivotal agreement means for Commonwealth small island leaders.

Day 7 - 17 November

Official rest day at COP29.

Day 6 - 16 November

The Commonwealth Secretary-General joined global space leaders for the Summit of Space Agency Leaders, spotlighting the pivotal role of space technology in tackling climate-related challenges. 

CommonSpace: A new era of space sustainability

Commonwealth Secretary-General with heads of space agencies at COP29

(Photo courtesy of COP29 Azerbaijan)

She introduced CommonSpace, launched in June 2024, as a groundbreaking initiative that builds on the success of the CommonSensing project. 

It leverages space data to help developing countries better predict, manage and recover from increasingly frequent and severe climate disasters.

Day 5 - 15 November

Forests are essential to preserving biodiversity and play a pivotal role in combating climate change. Acting as natural carbon sinks, they absorb approximately 2.6 billion tons of carbon dioxide annually - about one-third of global fossil fuel emissions.

On Day 5 of COP29, we unveiled our Forest Carbon Toolkit. Featuring insights from Guyana and Rwanda, the report provides practical guidance for countries wanting to access the voluntary carbon markets.

The growth of forest carbon financing in the Commonwealth
Explore the toolkit

A group photo of the Commonwealth Secretary-General and other panelists holding up the Forest Carbon Toolkit
A Commonwealth Climate Finance Adviser speaking at the Commonwealth Pavilion

The Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub helps small and other vulnerable states access vital funding to tackle climate change impacts.

Watch this video to find out how the Hub has helped Fiji unlock almost US$7 million, protecting coastal communities like Namoli village against sea level rise and storm surges.

Day 4 - 14 November

On Finance Day at COP29, we convened partners and member countries including UNITAR and the Governments of Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Fiji and Nigeria for a side event at the Commonwealth Pavilion, focusing on the role of geospatial data in driving nature-based climate solutions.

Fighting sea-level rise a long-term endeavour, say small island leaders
View our full side events schedule

A speaker presents at a side event at the Commonwealth Pavilion


 

The Commonwealth Secretary-General held bilateral meetings with climate leaders including Sadhguru, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs, Dr. Felipe Paullier, and Nauru’s Minister for Climate Change and National Resilience, Hon Asterio Appi, to advance their shared commitment to building a more resilient, sustainable and just world.

Watch Commonwealth Secretary-General’s interview with COP26 President Alok Sharma on the COP29 Daily Show

Day 3 - 13 November

Day 3 began with a youth intergenerational dialogue at the Commonwealth Pavilion.

Youth leaders shared insights into their climate initiatives and discussed ways the Commonwealth could further amplify their voices in climate action.

Youth leaders at the Commonwealth Pavilion at COP29
A youth leader speaks at the Commonwealth Pavilion

The Commonwealth Secretary-General then opened the Leaders' Summit of Small Island Developing States on Climate Change.

At the summit, leaders from the Pacific and Caribbean came together to call on the international community to deliver on its promises to provide greater financial support to small island nations on the frontlines of climate change. 

Commonwealth Secretary-General warns small island states cannot wait for climate finance

 

Day 2 - 12 November

On Day 2 of COP29, the Commonwealth Secretary-General participated in a side event on the upcoming launch of the Pacific Resilience Facility - a Pacific led, owned and managed initiative.

Based in Tonga, the facility aims to raise US $1.5 billion to help limit global warming to 1.5 degrees, as agreed at COP21 in Paris.

Climate finance promises must be kept, Commonwealth Secretary-General tells COP29

 

 

At the Commonwealth Pavilion, we also hosted several side events with member countries and partners, including a session on implementing Sri Lanka's Net Zero strategy and roadmap.

Panelists at a side event at the Commonwealth Pavilion at COP29

Day 1 - 11 November

The 29th Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC, or COP29, opened today in Baku, Azerbaijan where world leaders are gathering to accelerate global climate action. 

Working for a greener world - the Commonwealth Secretariat at COP29

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, joined Commonwealth leaders, including Tuvalu’s Prime Minister, the Hon Feleti Penitala Teo OBE, at a high-level session to address the existential threat of sea-level rise facing Small Island Developing States.

In her remarks, the Secretary-General highlighted the Apia Commonwealth Ocean Declaration, recently adopted by Commonwealth countries at CHOGM 2024 in Samoa. This landmark commitment paves the way for ambitious, innovative and transformative action for a Common Wealth of shared ocean prosperity.

Read more about the declaration

Watch the Prime Minister of Tuvalu speak about the Apia Commonwealth Ocean Declaration.

See photos from Day 1 of COP29

Commonwealth at COP29

See the event schedule at the Commonwealth Pavilion



COP29 glossary

Read our COP29 Glossary for a breakdown of common terms you will hear at COP29 - from climate justice and New Collective Quantified Goals (NCQG) to Loss and damage.

Download the glossary

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