This one-day Wilton Park dialogue sent a clear message: sustainable urbanisation, and the 2022 Commonwealth Declaration on Sustainable Urbanisation should remain a priority in the lead up to CHOGM 2026. There was a strong desire to continue the move from declaration to implementation, which the CSCC pilot programme has done much to outline and guide, and CSCI should continue its work with member states in this regard.
The pilot programme outlines the need for multi-level, multi-sector approaches to largely systemic challenges. Action would be strengthened by better access to lessons learned elsewhere in the Commonwealth, and here CSCI and its component networks provide a unique resource, seen as useful by many states as they develop solutions and expand capacity.
The need to secure political buy-in from national leaders was clearly expressed, as this is a key determiner of the agenda’s uptake at CHOGM 2026. Long-term political commitments could also encourage greater private investment, seen as key to addressing the current financing gap, with the Commonwealth offering a potential collective voice for strengthening engagement with investors.
While individual country actions are necessary, success can be strengthened by integrating and scaling them to address systemic barriers comprehensively. A pre-CHOGM Wilton Park dialogue with CSCI partners will therefore be held in Georgetown, Guyana, with the support of the Government of Guyana, to bring the agenda forward ahead of and at CHOGM in Antigua and Barbuda.
Nathaniel Monahan-Lai
Wilton Park | August 2026
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Notes
Wilton Park reports are brief summaries of the main points and conclusions of a
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