Latest content: Commonwealth Climate Change Programme

The Commonwealth Secretariat and global health non-profit PATH today announced a new accelerator to fast-track the development of promising innovations that address the extreme effects of climate change on health systems and the health of communities across the 56 Commonwealth countries.

A new implementation framework was launched today to facilitate coordinated action among the 56 Commonwealth countries on land, biodiversity and climate challenges, directly impacting a quarter of the world’s land area.

A new action group announced in Dubai today will help Commonwealth countries rapidly cut emissions of the potent greenhouse gas methane as part of wider efforts to keep rising global temperatures within liveable limits.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, today convened a high-level panel on the margins of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change COP28 in Dubai on Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for Climate Action and Youth Empowerment.

The Wildfire-Resilient Landscapes Network was launched at a reception attended by His Majesty King Charles III, on 30 November ahead of the start of COP28, in Dubai.

The Secretary-General, The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, will lead the Commonwealth delegation at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai to call for accelerated action on the climate crisis in light of intensifying threats to small and vulnerable member countries.  

Government officials from six emerging oil and gas producers in Africa gathered recently in Senegal to examine tangible actions they could undertake, as to minimise greenhouse gas emissions in the energy sector.

Climate action has been recognised as the most significant opportunity in the 21st century to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which guide the global, regional and national development efforts of governments worldwide.

On the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York yesterday the Commonwealth marked a historic moment as the inaugural Commonwealth Environment and Climate Ministers Meeting (CECMM) convened, uniting ministers, distinguished speakers, and representatives from Commonwealth member states, partner organisations and stakeholders.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, will seek to ramp up global support for greater climate finance commitments at the Africa Climate Summit, which takes place 4 to 6 September in Nairobi, Kenya.

Othniel Yila is an experienced climate finance practitioner. As the Commonwealth National Climate Finance Adviser for Zambia, he has helped the government secure at least US$21.7 million in climate financing for the country and built the capacity of 130 government officials to tackle climate change.

The International Climate Initiative (IKI) of Germany, also known as the Internationale Klimaschutzinitiative, has announced the approval of two transformative youth-focused projects aimed at tackling climate change in Zambia and Namibia.

Uzoamaka Nwamarah, Adviser, Climate Change and Katherine Blackman, Information and Knowledge Management Officer

Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, joined Caribbean leaders and eminent guests yesterday to celebrate the 50 years of CARICOM’s leadership, unity and progress, while pledging her continued support to the organisation.

As Pacific Island Countries are at the frontline of the impacts of climate change, they need adequate and accessible climate finance, which is necessary for them to implement much-needed projects.

Recently, advisers from the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub (CCFAH) completed a Climate Finance Writeshop in the Solomon Islands to strengthen the skills of climate stakeholders in producing effective concept notes by incorporating earth observation data.

At the 2023 Commonwealth Sustainable Energy Forum, Dr Shavana Haythornthwaite, Head of the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Human Rights Unit, highlighted the importance of integrating human rights into the transition to renewable energy. In this blog, she delves into the challenges and opportunities associated with this integration, shedding light on its significance.

Labanya Prakash Jena served as the Commonwealth Regional Climate Finance Adviser, Indo-Pacific Region at the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub (CCFAH) from 2021 to 2023. To date, more than US$8 million in climate finance has been mobilised for the region, with the support of CCFAH. Nearing the end of his tenure, Labanya shares some insights about the region and his work.

More than 70 local stakeholders in Mauritius have completed intensive training in international climate negotiations in the lead up to the UN Climate Change Conference COP28 this November.

Young people, children and educators from all 56 Commonwealth member countries are invited to join a special challenge aimed at harnessing community-led innovations about sustainable energy – the first of its kind for the Commonwealth.

Mxolisi Sibanda has spent close to 20 years working as a natural resources management and conservation expert in the UK and Africa. As an Adviser in the Climate Change Section of the Commonwealth Secretariat, he leads the Secretariat’s work around the Commonwealth Call to Action on Living Lands. He shares some insights about his work below.

The Commonwealth Secretariat’s Climate Finance Access Hub (CCFAH) deployed National Climate Finance Adviser (CNCFA), Carol Mwape, in May 2021 to facilitate improved access by Namibia to climate finance to meet their priority needs in securing sustainable development. The support is aimed at creating an enabling environment conducive for accessing available climate funds both locally and internationally, and to effectively utilize it for supporting sustainable development efforts.