Commonwealth Ministers to discuss adaptation to climate change
1 February 2007
Commonwealth Environment Ministers will meet in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, on 5 February 2007 to discuss concerns in adapting to climate change.
The meeting, which will take place under the umbrella of the Commonwealth Consultative Group on the Environment (CCGE), will be chaired by Kenya’s Minister for Environment and Natural Resources, Professor Kivutha Kibwana. The meeting will take place at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Headquarters Headquarters, Gigiri, Kenya.
It will convene on the eve of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environmental Forum.
The consultative group provides a platform for Commonwealth governments to share experiences and prepare for international negotiations and discussions related to sustainable development.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Dr Indrajit Coomaraswamy, Director of the Economic Affairs Division of the Commonwealth Secretariat, said:
“We need effective measures to help people to adapt to climate change which is having a greater impact on the lives and livelihood of our people,”
The meeting will focus on practical ways to help countries adapt to climate change and explore the political issues that need to be addressed.
Discussions will focus on the role of Commonwealth parliamentarians; skill-building priorities; curriculum development and information exchange among small states; and the engagement of young people in awareness- raising and data gathering.
The development of a guide for citizens; drawing on technical expertise from Commonwealth professional groups; raising of awareness among journalists through training; and the development of educational materials for young people to improve their understanding of the value of the forests and their role in climate change, will also be on the agenda.
Dr Coomaraswamy said Commonwealth networks can help build understanding, engagement and consensus on addressing the challenges posed by climate change.
He added: “It is clear that climate change will have the greatest impact on societies with the most limited resources and the lowest capacity to cope, particularly developing countries and the poorest communities.”
He stressed that climate change will reduce already low incomes, magnify food insecurity and increase the likelihood of illness.
For girls, said Coomaraswamy, the gathering of water will take increasing amounts of time from their school days, while poor subsistence farmers will find it increasingly difficult to invest savings in their future.
Dr Coomaraswamy warned that some Commonwealth small states and those with low-lying land masses face a real limit to how much adaptation to climate change they can undertake.
“For such states, a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is critical. Effective action now on emissions will help reduce the risks associated with climate change and keep adaptation within manageable bounds,” he said.
Note to Editors
Papers for this and previous sessions of the CCGE are posted on the Secretariat’s website at http://www.thecommonwealth.org/ by following the links to “Our Work”, “Environment” and “Commonwealth Consultative Group”.
For media inquiries, please contact Julius Mucunguzi, Communications Officer, Communications and Public Affairs Division; Tel: +44 20 7747 6382 or via email at j.mucunguzi@commonwealth.int
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