Latest content: Environment and climate change

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC, has called for countries to ramp up action to urgently address key challenges linked to climate change, ocean, land degradation and biodiversity loss.

Climate finance is becoming increasingly available to countries, but it must be integrated with national policy, planning and budgetary systems. One way to address this is through a comprehensive Climate Change Financing Framework.

As we mark World Health Day under the theme ‘Our Planet, Our Health’, we are reminded of the urgency to catalyse ambitious targets to build low-carbon and climate-resilient health systems to enable net zero emissions and ensure the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The Government of Saint Lucia is rolling out fresh projects that aim to boost the flow of climate finance into the country, with the support of the Commonwealth and key partners.

Blog by Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC

In July 2021, the European Commission (EC) announced a proposal to implement a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) on energy-intensive imports from third countries. The proposed CBAM would initially apply to five sectors: electricity, iron and steel, fertilisers, aluminium and cement. However, its scope could be extended to include indirect emissions and other goods and services.

At the heart of the Paris Agreement are the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which are country-specific climate targets to reduce greenhouse emissions and adapt to climate change.

The Commonwealth family has mobilised to assist the Kingdom of Tonga in its time of need, following a devastating undersea volcanic eruption on 15 January 2022, which generated tsunami waves of up to 15m high.

Belize is aiming to access enhanced levels of funding for climate action with the creation of a new Climate Finance Unit under the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment.

Judy Wangari is one of an estimated 800,000 smallholder potato farmers who, according to the National Potato Council of Kenya, contribute at least 83 percent of the total potato production.

By Chukwuebuka Nnabugwu and Muhammed Badamasi, Commonwealth Correspondents

Ahead of International Day of Education, the Commonwealth Secretariat is launching a public database full of useful training courses related to ocean action.

Week two in the Commonwealth Pavilion at COP26 in Glasgow saw a full schedule of high-level meetings, collaborative launches and technical side events organised by the Commonwealth Secretariat, accredited organisations and member countries. Here are some of the video highlights from the second week of COP26 at the Commonwealth Pavilion. 

Young climate activists from across the Commonwealth shone a light on just how critical youth are at a series of events organised by the Commonwealth Youth Programme at this year’s COP but demanded world leaders need to take more action beyond the annual conference.

The Commonwealth Secretariat organised its first Commonwealth Pavilion at COP26 to serve as an inclusive and collaborative space for member countries and accredited organisations to meet, host side events, convene meetings and showcase research. Here are some of the highlights from the first week of COP26 at the Commonwealth Pavilion. 

Days before the global COP26 climate talks began in Glasgow, HRH The Prince of Wales met with the Commonwealth Secretary-General, The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC for a high-level discussion at Clarence House, to call attention to the crucial importance of sustainable urbanisation in tackling climate change.

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Blog by Samuel Ogallah, Commonwealth National Climate Finance Adviser to Eswatini

As the countdown to COP26 continues, young environmental activists and innovators, academics, experts, and government officials joined a series of regional dialogues to help set the youth agenda at the conference.