Latest content: Commonwealth Climate Change Programme

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.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, visited Vanuatu on April 29th and 30th to address climate justice and climate action issues for the Pacific. Her visit came at a critical time for Vanuatu, which is still recovering from the devastating impact of two Category 4 cyclones, Judy and Kevin, that hit the country in early March.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, has concluded a visit to Australia this week where she held discussions with government officials and civil society representatives on issues ranging from climate action to youth empowerment.

The Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub (CCFAH) continues to expand its support in the African and Indo-Pacific region with the deployment of three Commonwealth National Climate Finance Advisers to Maldives, Nauru and Seychelles.

The Solomon Islands is one step closer to making history with its first-ever fleet of electric buses, in line with the nation’s ambitious climate target of achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

Human life is sacred and every individual deserves an equal chance in life. We have a common desire, we all want to lead a free, fulfilling existence, with dignity, where our basic needs are met, with opportunities to advance and equal treatment under the law. These are fundamental human rights, protected by international law, which we all have a shared responsibility to protect.

Targeted assessments carried out in Trinidad and Tobago as well as Antigua and Barbuda show that these countries are well prepared to pursue the development of sustainable blue economies, while also facing a range of untapped opportunities and challenges.

Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, will address the Monaco Blue Initiative on 20 March 2023 to advocate for increased international co-operation and action on tackling shared ocean challenges.

Collaborative action is vital to prevent the runaway effects of climate change and loss of biodiversity, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, has told a conference of global leaders and experts on Thursday.

There is a water crisis in Zambia – and it is deteriorating. Climate change has caused rainfall to dwindle, and in drought-prone areas, streams, rivers and lakes are drying up. Women and children are forced to walk longer distances to gain access to clean and safe water, while farmers must deal with lower crop yields and changing seasons. Millions of people’s lives and livelihoods are being impacted.

Photo credit: Clayton Smith/WorldFish

Blog by Martin Barriteau, Commonwealth National Climate Finance Adviser, Tonga

The Commonwealth Secretariat, PATH and the Reaching the Last Mile initiative have begun the drumbeat towards this year’s global climate summit COP28, calling for action to address the harmful impacts of climate change on health.

Blog by Dr Josheena Naggea, Commonwealth youth advocate for ocean-climate action

Blog by Dr Ruth Kattumuri, Unnikrishnan Nair, Labanya Jena and Alexander Lee-Emery

Blog by Vinay Singh, Director of Policy, Ministry of Waterways, Fiji, and Katherine Cooke, Commonwealth Climate Finance Adviser, Fiji

The Commonwealth Secretariat has launched a new best practice guide that will assist policymakers and practitioners across the Commonwealth to integrate gender equality into national climate action.

Blog by Labanya Prakash Jena, Commonwealth Regional Climate Finance Adviser, Indo-Pacific Region

Following two weeks of extensive negotiations at the UN Climate Change Conference COP27, nearly 200 countries have agreed on a set of key outcomes, including the establishment of a fund to address loss and damage due to climate change.

With the growing climate uncertainties and mounting financial needs for climate adaptation and mitigation, member countries across the Commonwealth are keen to see businesses take up a greater role in the fight against climate change.

Blog by Soumik Biswas, Commonwealth National Climate Finance Adviser for Mauritius and Othniel Yila, Commonwealth National Climate Finance Adviser for Zambia

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, has called on member countries to uphold global climate change commitments and take decisive action to tackle the gaps in implementation, ahead of next week’s United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27).