Samoa has urged Commonwealth leaders to pursue climate financing that helps vulnerable countries recover without increasing their debt burden.
Addressing the opening of CHOGM 2026, Samoa’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance called for accessible, predictable and grant-based climate finance.
She argued that countries should not have to borrow their way out of crises they had done little to create.
The outgoing chair’s representative warned that worsening climate conditions were already causing permanent losses for nations and communities.
She said the danger of exceeding the 1.5-degree warming threshold must not become an excuse to delay action.
Her address also called for implementation of the Apia Commonwealth Ocean Declaration, describing the ocean as central to island livelihoods, economies and cultures.
Samoa presented climate and ocean action as continuing priorities as it transferred the Commonwealth chair to Antigua and Barbuda.
