Background

Climate change is the defining challenge of our time. Many member countries, especially small and other vulnerable states, face serious challenges from climate change, energy insecurity, pollution, and the loss of ocean life and biodiversity. These pressures threaten people’s livelihoods, harm economies, and strain public services. Women, young people, and marginalised groups are often hardest hit and left out of decisions that affect their lives. 

Our Strategic Plan 2025–2030 responds to this reality with Environmental Resilience as a core pillar alongside Democratic and Economic Resilience. This pillar recognises that climate, ocean and energy systems underpin sovereignty, stability and prosperity; and that access to climate finance and technology remains uneven.

The Plan’s ambition is clear: by 2030, Commonwealth members – especially small and other vulnerable countries should have stronger climate resilience, fair access to clean energy and sustainable use of oceans and natural resources.  

Objectives 

• To elevate environmental resilience as central to Commonwealth prosperity 
• To demonstrate impact for scaling up across climate, oceans and energy 
• To build partnerships and momentum around the Commonwealth’s climate, oceans and energy and natural resources work 

Participants

The target audience is Commonwealth leaders in environmental resilience, High Commissioners and diplomats, and our strategic partners.

For more information, please contact: climatechange@commonwealth.int