Rt. Hon Patricia Scotland, Commonwealth Secretary General, voiced concern at the 19th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Non-Aligned Movement, highlighting the global financial system’s shortcomings in adequately supporting climate-vulnerable developing nations.
She emphasized the system’s limitations, leading many countries into unfavorable borrowing terms, creating a detrimental cycle of unsustainable debt.
Recent research reveals that these climate-vulnerable nations allocate more funds to external debt payments than to crucial climate change mitigation projects.
Hon. Scotland called for enhanced international cooperation to address the interconnected challenges of economics, environment, and security, aiming to protect humanity from their overlapping impacts.
In her address, she underlined the necessity of unprecedented international political and economic collaboration to overcome the serious and entrenched crises our world faces.
Drawing on the Commonwealth’s history of leadership, from opposing apartheid to environmental initiatives, she expressed confidence in the organization’s ability to unite nations and confront global challenges collectively.
Hon. Scotland affirmed her commitment to the Commonwealth’s reform process, emphasizing equal representation for all countries in decision-making. She assured that the Commonwealth will persist until every nation, regardless of size, has an equal voice in shaping decisions affecting them.
The Secretary General commended President Yoweri Museveni’s chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement, pledging the Commonwealth’s full support during his term. Additionally, during the summit, she engaged with leaders from Commonwealth countries to explore shared interests and potential avenues for collaboration.