As one of the signature events ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), this year’s 2024 Commonwealth Climate Breakfast focused on building consensus on climate finance targets for COP 29. The Prime Minister gave a speech to a packed venue. Ministers from Tonga and Tuvalu. Vice President of Maldives. Minister of Fisheries and Forestry of the Fiji government and Minister of Foreign Affairs from Mauritius.
High-level representatives of Member States, climate experts, and other stakeholders, including young people, contributed to the event, and Dr. Ruth Katsumuri, Senior Director of the Directorate General for Economy, Youth and Sustainable Development at the Commonwealth Secretariat, provided an expert I served as the moderator.
Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland KC highlighted the scale of the challenge faced by weaker countries affected by climate change and declared the urgent need to unlock climate finance.
The Secretary-General of the Federation stated:
“These shocks cause significant economic and human suffering, exacerbate existing vulnerabilities, and undermine resilience by the systems and structures that have created such imbalances in our world. The untold physical damage will be exacerbated.”
“Debt is one example. The most vulnerable states have higher debt-to-GDP ratios than the global average, and this is further exacerbated by global financial rules that limit access to concessional development finance. .”
He noted that the Commonwealth Climate Finance Action Hub (CCFAH) had made an initial investment of US$8.5 million to secure US$366.31 million in climate finance for small and other vulnerable Commonwealth countries. Figures updated on the fly by Unnikrishnan Nair, Deputy Director-General for Climate Change and Sustainability at the Commonwealth Secretariat, were recently confirmed as US$2.76 million in funding for new projects in the Seychelles was recently confirmed. .
Many panel leaders noted that they have benefited significantly from CCFAH, both in terms of access to additional climate finance, policy support, and capacity building for government officials.
During the event, Emi Furuya, Director of the Canadian Commissioner for International Organizations and Human Rights, announced an additional C$4.65 million in funding for CCFAH. He said this additional investment was a result of listening to the pleas of small and other vulnerable countries. The Director-General added:
“Canada’s focus on gender equality is well known and is a core element of our international aid programs around the world. We are pleased to be contributing to the Climate Finance Access Hub’s efforts to ensure that girls from all walks of society are supported and positively impacted by this climate finance funding.”
Canada’s announcement was followed by support from Australia and the United Kingdom, all three of which were original funders of CCFAH.
The event also sets the stage for the Commonwealth Secretariat to attend COP29 in Azerbaijan. He also said that the Secretariat is in close contact with His Excellency Mukhtar Babaev, COP29 President-designate, resulting in strong support for small and other fragile states.
Jevanic Henry, Youth Climate Advisor to the UN Secretary-General and former Young Expert at the Commonwealth Secretariat, said the way forward in terms of funding was clear. He said the time for talks is over and now is the time for bold leadership and united action. “Let’s get it done at the COP,” he concluded.
media contact
CHOGM Communication Team
federal secretariat
Phone number: + 44 7894 593508
Email: (email protected)
