Commonwealth Secretariat
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  2. About Us
  3. Our Work
    1. Climate Change
    2. Human Settlements
    3. Sustainable Development
    4. Iwokrama
    5. Environment Law
    6. Protecting and Managing Natural Resources
  4. Meetings
    1. Commonwealth Consultative Group on Environment
    2. Commonwealth Consultative Group on Human Settlements
  5. News Archive
  6. Resources

About Us

Mandate

The Commonwealth Secretariat’s commitment to sustainable development is enshrined in the Langkawi Declaration on the Environment, agreed at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting held in Malaysia in 1989. This document recognised that: “our shared environment binds all countries to a common future.”

Our Approach

The approach adopted by the Secretariat is based on the need to protect the environment, which should be viewed in a balanced perspective with due emphasis given to promoting economic growth and sustainable development, including the eradication of poverty, meeting basic needs, and enhancing quality of life. To be successful in each of these areas requires a fully integrated approach throughout all sectors of our work.

Our Work

The three main areas which the Secretariat currently focuses on are: Climate Change, Sustainable Development - especially within small states - and Human Settlements.

In addition to these specific areas we also work to ensure that all Commonwealth Secretariat projects pay due consideration to sustainability through the implementation of a check list which all projects go through.

How We Work

Primarily, the work we undertake is based on achieving consensus and advocacy on priority issues at ministerial or intergovernmental levels. We provide support, assistance and negotiating capacity to all of our member states, through the provision of experts and thorough analysis.

Our principal mechanisms for achieving high level discussion are;