“It provides Member States, today, here, now, with a unique opportunity: to forge common cause in the interests of our peoples. And what unites this extraordinary and unique group of countries even more deeply is our values: of democracy and the rule of law; of respect, equal dignity and human rights; of sustainable development; of peace and security. These values have never been more important, contested as they are on so many fronts. And they guide us to action.
“That is why, Secretary General, the theme of this Chogm – Accelerating Partnerships and Investment for a Prosperous Commonwealth – represents such a vital opportunity for us all. To realise these opportunities, in the field of climate and nature, for example, transformative investment can drive real change, such as in renewable energy and resilient infrastructure, in sustainable, regenerative agriculture and agroforestry and food systems, in our oceans, our forests and in the natural systems upon which our economies and societies ultimately depend.
“Here in the Caribbean, as in so many parts of our Commonwealth, climate change is not some distant prospect; it is an alarming reality. As we know, large Ocean States have contributed little to the causes of climate change, and yet they are among those bearing the greatest cost. If we mobilise climate finance through the private sector, and with the leveraging capacity of the public sector, we can drive investment into climate resilience. Nature herself is an essential form of capital that sustains our prosperity and wellbeing, and yet we have persisted for too long to live off Nature’s capital rather than her income.
“To restore Nature is therefore not to choose our environment over our economy – it is to invest in the very foundations of our economy, not to mention our security. The Secretary General has announced a series of Nature and climate proposals for consideration at this year’s Heads Meeting: a new Commonwealth Nature Initiative with funding to restore habitats; work with insurers on the proposal for a Commonwealth-backed mutual insurance mechanism to provide rapid payouts after disasters; and aspirations for a Commonwealth Net Zero Fund to provide access to credit for a renewable-energy revolution.
“I look forward to hearing how Commonwealth leaders, the private sector and civil society will work together on innovative proposals like these in support of all the citizens of the Commonwealth, especially in countries most vulnerable to the reality of climate change. Another area in which, it seems to me, there is such great potential for the Commonwealth to do more is in international trade.