On the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, the 24th Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting (CFAMM) convened today in New York, bringing together foreign ministers and senior representatives from Commonwealth member countries.
This meeting was an opportunity for members to review the broad array of achievements of the Commonwealth over the previous year and to discuss the key priorities ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, which will convene in Samoa in October 2024.
CFAMM plays a pivotal role in advancing the Commonwealth’s agenda and setting the stage for the upcoming summit in Samoa. Chaired by His Excellency Olivier Nduhungirehe, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Rwanda, in Rwanda’s role as Commonwealth Chair-in-Office, the meeting discussed a range of pressing international challenges and the path to a stronger Commonwealth, reaffirming its commitment to collective action and shared solutions.
In her final address to a CFAMM as Commonwealth Secretary-General, Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC reflected on the considerable progress made during her eight-year tenure, while also acknowledging the increasing complexity of the challenges facing the global community. She underscored the Commonwealth’s vital role in addressing urgent crises such as climate change, economic instability, and threats to democracy.
"The world is more connected yet more challenged than ever before. The crises we face — from intensifying climate change to economic shocks and global conflict — are deeply interlinked, exacerbating inequalities and spreading uncertainty," said Secretary-General Scotland.
"Our Commonwealth family is a symbol of unity and collective strength, and we must continue to work together to ensure a resilient and sustainable future for all."
Secretary-General urges global cooperation and climate finance reform at Climate Week
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While in New York, Secretary-General Scotland delivered a keynote address at the Climate Week NYC Opening Ceremony, highlighting the need for urgent global cooperation in the fight against climate change. She called for decisive action, stating:
"Climate action at the appropriate level requires a scale of political and economic commitment, cooperation and change that is unprecedented since the birth of the multilateral system. With the world’s most vulnerable people in our hearts and at the forefront of our minds, we must ensure that climate finance promises are finally kept.
"We must fundamentally reform the financial system to remove its imbalances. We must act with urgency on emissions, and on justice."
Key updates from CFAMM 2024
Ministers received updates on several key issues:
- CHOGM 2024 preparations: Prime Minister of Samoa, Hon Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa, provided an update on preparations for the upcoming CHOGM in Apia, Samoa, in October 2024. She reaffirmed Samoa’s dedication to hosting a successful summit under the theme ‘One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Common Wealth’.
- Commonwealth Secretariat’s Annual Results Report: Secretary-General Scotland presented the Secretariat’s progress over the past year, including key achievements in sustainable development, climate action, and economic resilience, as mandated by CHOGM 2022.
- Country situations: Ministers discussed territorial and political challenges in Cyprus, Belize, Guyana, and Bangladesh, reaffirming their solidarity with these member countries and their commitment to addressing the pressing issues in line with Commonwealth values of peace, justice, and democracy.
- Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG): The CMAG Chair provided a report on discussions held during the meeting of CMAG held the previous day, which addressed governance matters in some member countries and the Good Offices work of the Secretary-General across the Commonwealth.
In her closing remarks, Secretary-General Scotland expressed profound gratitude for the cooperation and support of Commonwealth member countries during her tenure. She reaffirmed her belief in the Commonwealth’s unique potential to lead global efforts in addressing the world’s most urgent challenges.
The 2024 CFAMM concluded with ministers reinforcing the Commonwealth’s role as a driving force for positive change in an increasingly complex global landscape.
To view photos from the meeting, please visit our Flickr gallery.
Media contact
- Rena Gashumba Communications Adviser, Communications Division, Commonwealth Secretariat
- T: +44 7483 919 968 | E-mail
