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A blog by Reginald Darius, head of economic policy in the Commonwealth Secretariat.
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Fiscal vulnerabilities and climate change
Main page for this area of work
Commonwealth report warns that governments could be hit by huge unexpected pay-outs if steps are not taken to manage hidden liabilities in unfunded pensions, loan guarantees, disaster relief and other contingencies.
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Commonwealth offers plan to stave off ‘time bomb’ of government liabilities
Legal experts from key international organisations, including the Commonwealth Secretariat, are meeting to develop a climate change legal toolkit to help countries carry out the Paris Agreement.
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Global collaboration on climate change legal toolkit
Small and vulnerable developing countries participating in global climate talks have expressed optimism that the Commonwealth will help them to access badly needed climate finance.
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Countries laud Commonwealth ‘leadership and activism’ on climate change
The Commonwealth reaffirmed its support to small states and vulnerable developing countries which face a daunting task in adapting to climate impacts, from desertification to rising seas.
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Commonwealth calls for ‘pioneering approaches’ to climate change
Governments and partners at global climate talks in Morocco say they are encouraged by action taken by the Commonwealth to support small and vulnerable countries.
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Countries look to Commonwealth at global climate conference
The Secretary-General will speak at the high level segment of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change conference, COP22, on 17 November.
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Resource-strapped countries need climate finance support
13 November 2016 to 18 November 2016
Event
Almost a year after the historic Paris Agreement on Climate Change, Morocco hosts the latest round of global climate talks.
The foreign affairs minister for St Kitts and Nevis says he’s convinced of the value of the Commonwealth to small and developing states.
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Commonwealth a ‘potent voice’ for small developing states, says senior minister
Small Commonwealth states have asked the Secretariat to help them tackle the illegal arms trade and implement the Arms Trade Treaty in a more effective way.
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Small states struggling to tackle illegal trade of arms
It’s not every day I fall back in love in a car park. But it happened while I was filming a short video with several self-confessed carbonphiliacs — including biomimicry guru Janine Benyus and Baroness Patricia Scotland, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Secretariat.
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Blog: Keep calm, we're experiencing a paradigm shift on climate change
The Government of Singapore has pledged to support the Commonwealth’s sustainable development programme for small and developing states.
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Singapore to back Commonwealth support to small and developing states
Climate change experts focused on exploring practical and economically viable solutions to combat decades of harm to the environment at a two-day conference
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Experts to help set goals for reversing human impact of climate change
Commonwealth’s Regenerative Development to Reverse Climate Change Workshop: Participants will explore cutting-edge technologies and innovations that can reduce carbon and roll back the effects of climate change, while supporting economic development.
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"The decision to stop destroying what is keeping us alive is firmly in our hands"
Business leaders, trade policymakers and leading global experts gathered at the World Export Development Forum in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo today to share ideas on how to best to navigate the new trading landscape.
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Call for Commonwealth small states to get support to access new trade opportunities
The signing of the memorandum of understanding demonstrates real intent to help those with limited access to international trade finance.
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An understanding to help small Commonwealth states get access to global markets is signed off
One of the world’s leading experts on climate change tells Commonwealth finance ministers that much more money needs to be pumped into tackling the problem.
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Urgent need for US$90 trillion investment: Lord Stern tells finance ministers
New research published today by the Commonwealth Secretariat calls for “fundamental changes” to the way the world’s oceans, seas and coastal areas are managed.
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Commonwealth urges policy changes to unleash blue economy
Hurricane Matthew threatens to inflict further severe damage on island nations of the Caribbean as it continues its path of destruction, and there is now significant risk that it will cause widespread damage to property and severe disruption in The Bahamas.
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Hurricane Matthew: Secretary-General urges ‘solidarity and renewed resolve’
The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland, spoke to the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation to express her concern and call for stronger climate action to help build resilience in all Commonwealth regions in the face of growing risk.
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Hurricane Matthew: Secretary-General shares sympathies and concern
Commonwealth members have welcomed the launch of a flagship centre dedicated to boosting support to small states.
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Malta and Commonwealth partner on flagship centre for small states
Vulnerable small island states and developing countries stand to gain access to billions of dollars of climate finance with the aid of a new Commonwealth initiative.
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Commonwealth hub to unlock billions in climate finance for developing countries
The Secretary-General has told BBC News that Commonwealth ministers and parliamentarians have asked her to help them respond to the crisis of irregular mass movement of people across the world by coming up with a plan.
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Commonwealth consensus on need to respond to irregular mass migration
Small states need to unite on getting their priorities on the global agenda, members of a Commonwealth working group agreed this week.
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Positioning small states’ challenges on the global agenda
Commonwealth climate finance experts will be on the ground within six months, Deputy Secretary-General Deodat Maharaj told Pacific heads of governments this week.
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Climate vulnerable countries prioritised for Commonwealth climate finance experts