stakeholders, advocating for enhanced access to climate finance, youth engagement and gender equality in the implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), ocean climate action and the need to achieve a sustainable transition towards a carbon neutral energy sector by mid-century.
The Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland, is also expected to advocate the interests of Commonwealth countries, particularly those of the most vulnerable states, who are said to be on the frontline of climate action. Of the 54 member states of the Commonwealth, thirty two are classified as ‘small states’, and a majority of them are identified as island developing nations.
Speaking during her visit to The Bahamas this week, Scotland emphasised the need for urgent action to ensure improved climate resilience of small states. “Urgent, decisive and sustained climate action is needed, and the international community must not miss the window to make a real difference at the upcoming COP26 summit. This includes mobilising the financial support needed for vulnerable nations to cope with the impacts of climate change and build long-lasting resilience,” the Secretary-General noted.
She also pointed out that while the Commonwealth Secretariat has already launched a number of programmes to support small states, there is more to be done multilaterally to target the needs of such countries, which face “an existential threat from climate change”.
