LONDON, CMC – Nelson Mandela as soon as mentioned, “It all the time appears unimaginable till it’s performed.” Reflecting on my nine-year tenure as Secretary-Common of the Commonwealth, I discover profound reality in these phrases.
In a world marked by rising geopolitical uncertainty and the erosion of multilateralism, the Commonwealth doesn’t merely endure. It’s thriving. We’ve got reaffirmed the relevance of our shared values, demonstrated the ability of collective motion, and laid a basis for future generations to prosper collectively.
From a gaggle of eight nations in 1949, the Commonwealth has grown right into a dynamic household of 56 member states, encompassing a 3rd of the world’s inhabitants.
Our dedication shouldn’t be certain by treaty however by a shared perception in democracy, the rule of legislation, and a world widespread good. When many worldwide establishments falter, the Commonwealth stays a beacon of unity and function.
Financial Benefit
Our energy lies not solely in our values but in addition in our financial potential. The Commonwealth Benefit – rooted in commonplace authorized methods, language, and enterprise practices – lowers commerce prices between member states by 21%.
Pan-Commonwealth commerce presently stands at US$800 billion, projected to rise to US$1 trillion by 2026 and US$2 trillion by 2030. Intra-Commonwealth funding has tripled throughout my tenure, demonstrating the arrogance and alternative inside our community.
Financial development isn’t just about numbers; it’s about individuals. We’re equipping our residents with the abilities and alternatives to steer within the digital financial system by way of initiatives just like the Commonwealth AI Consortium and Innovation Hub. With 60% of the Commonwealth’s inhabitants underneath 30, investing in youth is an crucial that our member states are embracing.
Local weather Management
The existential menace of local weather change is the problem of our occasions. Our most susceptible member states are profoundly uncovered, so the Commonwealth is on the forefront of sensible motion. Our Local weather Finance Entry Hub has unlocked over US$400 million for susceptible nations, enabling initiatives like nature-based seawalls in Fiji and sustainable power options within the Caribbean.
The Commonwealth Blue Constitution and the Dwelling Lands Constitution shield a 3rd of the world’s oceans and 1 / 4 of its land, making certain sustainable stewardship of our planet’s very important sources.
Nevertheless, the Commonwealth’s energy scale will be decisive in fostering world settlement. The consensus amongst our Heads of Authorities in 2015 helped ship the Paris Settlement, simply as consensus in 2022 helped set up the Loss & Injury Fund at COP28. The battle towards local weather change calls for continued management, and the Commonwealth should stay a driving drive in securing local weather finance, advancing adaptation, and championing the voices of small and susceptible states on the worldwide stage.
An Expression of Solidarity in Motion
At its coronary heart, the Commonwealth is an expression of solidarity in motion. Over the previous 9 years, our Good Workplaces crew has labored quietly but successfully to de-escalate political tensions in dozens of member states, safeguarding democracy and stability. Our Common Vulnerability Index is reshaping how the world views improvement finance, displaying that want, not outdated metrics, ought to decide entry to sources.
When an unprecedented pandemic hit the world, the Commonwealth’s spirit of collaboration enabled us to navigate the disaster skillfully. From well being system assist to financial restoration initiatives, we labored collectively as a result of that’s what we do.
Embracing Innovation
The forces shaping the world’s financial future—synthetic intelligence, digital transformation, and new frontiers of information—don’t acknowledge nationwide borders.
The query shouldn’t be whether or not we are going to select to be affected by these adjustments however how we are going to harness them for the collective good. We make sure that our member states are higher geared up to embrace and form the longer term by way of partnerships with world tech leaders, establishing the Commonwealth AI Academy, and cross-border initiatives to modernize public service supply.
A Commonwealth for the Subsequent Era
As I put together to move the baton to my successor, I accomplish that with profound optimism. In the present day’s Commonwealth is stronger, extra linked, and extra related than ever. Our continued energy will depend on the Commonwealth’s capability to ship continuous progress.
On this spirit, this 12 months’s Commonwealth Day theme, ‘Collectively We Thrive,’ is a name to motion. In an period of great change, the Commonwealth stands as proof that cooperation, partnership, and mutual respect usually are not relics of the previous however the keys to a affluent future.
The world is watching. As historical past has proven, the unimaginable turns into actuality when the Commonwealth acts with unity and function. If the Commonwealth continues to face collectively, act collectively, and thrive collectively, it is going to proceed to succeed—now and for future generations.
*The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC is the sixth Commonwealth Secretary-Common. She was born in Dominica and is the second Secretary-Common from the Caribbean and the primary girl to carry the publish.
