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Our Work

Children in Mumbai

We work in four key areas:

We focus on:

  • Advocacy and consensus-building. We support countries' efforts to agree on priority strategies for low carbon and climate resilient development. For instance, the Secretariat convenes the annual Ministerial Commonwealth Consultative Group on Environment (CCGE) to facilitate discussion among member governments on environment and sustainable development issues.  We also support countries influence the design and structure of international climate change policies and financing mechanisms, to address the difficulties facing small states and developing countries. 

  • Capacity development and technical assistance. We provide advice on natural resources management which helps governments strengthen policies and strategies for achieving environmentally sustainable development. In order to improve management of natural resources and the environment, and to ensure climate resilience, appropriate governance structures need to be in place. We help strengthen institutions, legal frameworks, national policies and strategies for sustainable development.

  • Research and policy analysis. We contribute to providing a solid evidence base on environmental issues, climate change impacts and coping strategies to help Commonwealth countries develop their policy approaches. 

  • Exchange of good practice. We support pan-Commonwealth collaboration and exchange of experiences and good practices on environment, natural resources and climate change.

Working with other organisations

The Commonwealth Secretariat works with developing countries, including small states and least developed countries to share knowledge and develop clear understanding of key environmental and climate change issues and to ensure that challenges faced by our members are presented at the highest levels to organisations such as the World Bank, IMF and various UN agencies.

Our partners in this work include the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre, Indian Ocean Commission, Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme, as well as the private sector and young people. We also work with other Commonwealth organisations such as the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the Commonwealth Forestry Association.