The Government of Belize is focusing on debt-for-climate swaps to tackle the dual threat of mounting public debt and climate change impacts in the country, with the support of the Commonwealth Secretariat.
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Belize explores debt-for-climate swaps with Commonwealth support
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It is perhaps fair to say that the world was ambushed by the pandemic in 2020. Global and national plans were derailed, and lives were lost and upended as each new development shocked and traumatised entire populations.
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Blog: Averting a Dual Crisis with One Financial Instrument
22 June 2021 to 22 June 2021
Event
In the face of multiple global crises, debt-for-climate swaps are being widely discussed as an instrument to manage mounting public debts, climate change challenges and Covid-19 recovery. Belize is a small island developing state in the Caribbean region facing these challenges. The Government of Belize has requested the Commonwealth Secretariat to provide assistance to design and implement a ‘Debt for Climate/Nature Swap Mechanism’ for the country.
The Commonwealth Secretariat has launched a discussion paper under the CommonSensing Project to enhance a nascent, yet important, conversation that is taking place around the world.
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Blog: Can satellites help climate vulnerable countries access finance to increase resilience?
Event
The Commonwealth Secretariat is driving the call for increased use of satellite derived technologies and data to enhance access of climate finance. This virtual event will launch a new discussion paper on the topic, highlighting the experiences of countries involved in the IPP CommonSensing Project.
More than 70 delegates from 16 Caribbean countries joined international partners to discuss financing solutions for climate action on land, and share their experiences in tackling the inter-related challenges of desertification, biodiversity loss and climate change.
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Caribbean countries discuss financing for climate action on land
28 May 2021 to 28 May 2021
Event
Together with the University of Cambridge, the Commonwealth Secretariat is hosting a virtual Policy Boot Camp for young people, to support government investment in youth development across Small State countries.
Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland has urged member countries to integrate sustainable land use management into their national climate action plans, with a focus on nature-based solutions, on the road to the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 this November.
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Commonwealth to bolster action on sustainable land use management on the road to COP26
Four new Commonwealth National Climate Finance Advisers get to work in the Pacific supporting climate resilience in Fiji, Tonga, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
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Blog: Experts Support Pacific Countries to Access Climate Finance
When 197 countries adopted the Paris Agreement on Climate Change in 2015, I remember feeling an extraordinary surge of hope – for multilateralism, for science, for humanity.
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OPINION: Can we rise from the COVID-19 ashes and win the climate battle?
2 December 2020 to 2 December 2020
Event
Youth activists as young as nine will join a momentous session on protecting the planet at a time when global climate talks are put on ice.
Violence against women and girls is a global epidemic, yet one of the least talked-about barriers to climate action.
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How climate finance can address violence against women and girls
More than 90 government officials from 11 nations have gained new skills that will help them make sound decisions on petroleum field development plans submitted by oil companies, to ensure they promote sustainable development.
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Officials trained to assess multi-billion dollar petroleum investments
The Commonwealth Blue Charter, the Commonwealth’s flagship programme on ocean cooperation, has been invited to join a leading line-up of official nominators for the prestigious Earthshot Prize.
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Commonwealth Blue Charter joins the search for first Earthshot Prize winners
Foreign ministers from across the Commonwealth met today in their first ever virtual meeting. The 20th Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting (CFAMM) would usually take place alongside the United Nations General Assembly but was held virtually this year due to the limitations of the COVID19 pandemic.
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Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting 2020
21 October 2020 to 23 October 2020
Event
The COVID-19 crisis is wreaking havoc on development progress. It also presents an opportunity for rethinking the economic vulnerability of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), and developing countries more generally.
The Commonwealth Secretary-General has commended the invaluable contributions of indigenous peoples to the global fight against climate change, calling for more home-grown ‘regenerative’ solutions to be scaled up across the Commonwealth.
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Commonwealth Secretary-General: Indigenous people key to inclusive climate action
A new online portal launched by the Commonwealth Secretariat will help member countries easily find the right type of financial support to prepare for, respond to and recover from natural disasters.
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Disaster funds easier to access with new web portal
The Commonwealth Secretary-General has welcomed the launch today by His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge of the Earthshot Prize.
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Commonwealth Secretary-General welcomes launch of prestigious Earthshot Prize
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Ministers and senior officials will meet in the margins of the United Nations General Assembly on September 24 to discuss the urgent need for improved access to financial resources and debt relief for small states.
Action around land use to slow climate change and biodiversity loss, gets vital boost from Commonwealth and United Nations partners during a breakthrough meeting.
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Commonwealth countries back actions to combat climate change through land use
Commonwealth national climate finance advisers have begun work in Belize, Eswatini, Seychelles and Zambia to help them access funding to tackle climate change.
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Commonwealth deploys top national climate finance advisers in Belize, Eswatini, Seychelles and Zambia
17 September 2020 to 18 September 2020
Event
The Commonwealth Secretariat and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification are organising a high-level side event in the margins of the United Nations General Assembly.
The Commonwealth, through the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub has supported Saint Lucia to secure a new climate finance grant from the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN). The $200,000 grant will enhance the climate resilience of local communities in Saint Lucia.
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Commonwealth support secures grant to help St Lucia build climate resilience
Powerful satellite technology can help Caribbean countries better manage natural disasters and boost climate resilience, as the region braces for a busy hurricane season.
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Rapid mapping technology to help Caribbean through looming hurricane season