The upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in June is increasingly being promoted as a Commonwealth stepping stone on the way to COP26 – the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) scheduled to be held in Glasgow in November.
The Institute of Commonwealth Studies (ICwS) organised a virtual panel discussion on 25 March stating that:
The Commonwealth has a great opportunity to contribute to the outcome of COP26 as its extraordinary diversity enables it to speak without regional or economic bias. Whilst all its members can identify their key priorities, the challenges facing Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are common to many of its members, the largest community of SIDS worldwide. What experience can these bring to COP26 and share to wider benefit? What message should they take to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in June and how might its outcome link to the UN Conference in November?
The panellists were:
- Sir Ronald Sanders, Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to the United States and to the Organisation of American States; Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London; Former High Commissioner in London and member and Rapporteur, Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group (2010–2011).
- Gabrielle Swaby Jamaican-born researcher into global climate diplomacy, policy and governance at the International Institute for Environment and Development, helping the Least Developed Countries Group in the UN climate change negotiations with particular attention to mitigation and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
- Revd Guy Hewitt Former High Commissioner of Barbados in London and its representative on the International Maritime Organisation; Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London; Governor, Board of the Commonwealth Secretariat.
- The host was Professor Philip Murphy, Director, Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London.
- The event was moderated by David Wardrop, Westminster United Nations Association.
You can view the full ICwS event in the video below:
