Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, emphasized the pressing need for decisive action rooted in unwavering honesty to address the escalating global crises triggered by climate change.
Speaking at the High-Level Segment of the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, the Secretary-General warned of the Earth’s climate instability, highlighting unprecedented challenges such as extreme weather events, heatwaves, droughts, storms, floods, and fires.
“The breakdown of climate stability demands our responsibility, with consequences for humanity like never before,” she asserted, urging immediate measures to reduce emissions, expedite the energy transition, and restore the natural world.
Additionally, she called for donors to honor their climate finance commitments to vulnerable countries, especially small states within the Commonwealth facing the forefront of climate change impacts.
“Developing countries and small island states suffer a multitude of climate-related injustices. Although these are among the world’s lowest carbon emitters and contribute the least to climate change, they are often the most susceptible to the impacts of extreme weather events and less able to adapt and mitigate,” she highlighted.
Notably, youth leaders representing the Commonwealth’s 56 countries echoed the call for concrete action during COP28, emphasizing the need for leaders to move beyond rhetoric and deliver tangible outcomes to safeguard the planet. The Commonwealth Youth Climate Change Network (CYCN) launched a report during an intergenerational dialogue, outlining young people’s climate concerns and proposing specific actions for government engagement.
Expressing disappointment at the insufficient response to previous recommendations presented at COP26 in Glasgow, youth leaders urged governments to create conditions facilitating the sharing of youth experiences on climate risks, showcasing their work, and influencing policymaking.
Chevaughn Brown, Membership lead of the Commonwealth Youth Climate Change Network, stressed the importance of giving young people a voice in shaping their future through decisive planning and responsible choices to turn climate change narratives into distant stories.
Ibiso Ikiroma-Owiye, Chairperson of the Commonwealth Ocean Youth Working Group, emphasized that youth participation in climate change processes is not a privilege but a fundamental right, advocating for a seat at the table without financial struggles to implement innovative projects for a shared and sustainable future.
The dialogue provided a platform for young people to engage with leaders, including the Commonwealth Secretary-General, fostering discussions on climate risks, support structures for youth-led climate action, innovation, and ocean conservation.