Following a meeting with Commonwealth Foreign Ministers in the US last week, the Foreign Secretary spoke about the need for the Commonwealth to work together on issues such as climate change.

 

'We are just two months away from the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. I've chaired a meeting this week with Commonwealth Foreign Ministers and I believe the issue of climate change is one which can bring the Commonwealth together in a new way'.

 

'The Commonwealth is a great and unique institution. It needs to ensure that it uses its unique combination of countries; north, south, east and west; large and small; countries that are crossing divides of race, religion and region to rise to the greatest threat that we face'.

 

Action at Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting

 

He went on to stress 'Nothing is more moving than to hear the Foreign Minister of the Maldives, when we talk about the need for action on climate change, to avoid his country literally being washed away'.

 

'And I think that threat is something which should mobilise us in the run up to the Commonwealth meeting. I think the Commonwealth can be a place to send a warning about the danger of climate change but it can also be a place to develop political momentum. Meeting just a week before the Copenhagen summit, that's what I think the Commonwealth meeting needs to do', he said.  

 

Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. It is held every two years and brings together Commonwealth leaders to discuss global and Commonwealth issues, and to agree upon collective policies and initiatives.

 

Related links

Commonwealth Conversation

Chogm 2009