Our challenges

Many Commonwealth countries face the following challenges:

• multiple impacts of climate change 
• unprecedented growth in urbanisation
• shortage of financial and technological resources or support.

The scale and speed of these changes are already undermining progress towards the Millennium Development Goals and therefore it is essential we address them as a priority.

How we meet these challenges

• We work with our most vulnerable member states to be effective at both the international and national policy levels to address the social and economic implications of climate change. In practice this involves actions as diverse as convening high level global forums to develop knowledge and capacity for international negotiators to organising practical workshops for practitioners to establish how agricultural policy might be affected by climate change.
• We provide technical assistance to address specific needs identified by member states or regional organisations.
• Our human settlements work is aligned to the Millennium Development Goals - especially those related to slum dwellers, water, sanitation and education - and action through Commonwealth networks will support progress towards these MDG targets. (Click here for information on our ComHabitat work)