Climate Finance

Significant financial resources are required to help developing countries deal with climate change and advance their own strategies on adaptation and towards carbon-neutral and climate resilient economies. 

Through advocacy and research initiatives, the Secretariat aims to help member countries access and influence the design of financing mechanisms for environmentally sustainable development.  We undertake research internally and with our development partners, on various climate finance mechanisms available to Commonwealth developing countries. This is used as an evidence base to help vulnerable developing countries to participate effectively at international fora, to secure climate financing mechanisms that are tailored to their specific needs. These include the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conferences of the Parties (COPs) or in preparations for the Third International Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, scheduled to take place in 2014.

Climate Finance Meetings

The Secretariat also convenes high-level meetings, for example on climate finance with Commonwealth government ministries, regional development partners and developed countries to develop understanding of climate finance experiences at the national level. Findings are used to develop options for action by Commonwealth governments, to ensure the poorest and most vulnerable Commonwealth member countries - especially Small Island Developing States (SIDS), low lying coastal states, Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and other African member countries – are well placed to access finance to meet their climate change resilience priorities.

Commonwealth High-Level Meeting on Climate Finance, January 2011

A Commonwealth high-level meeting on Climate Finance was held at Wiston House, UK in January 2011. Planning ministries and environment experts identified blockages that prevent climate finance from flowing quickly and effectively to the Commonwealth’s poorest and most vulnerable members, and potential ways forward.  | Read meeting documents....