A ‘Commonwealth Chat’ has been held at the University of Cambridge, in the United Kingdom. Sixteen participants from a wide variety of Commonwealth nations discussed subjects ranging from the perception of the association as a relic of Empire to the potential for the association to develop into an alternative form of governance where diverse nations work together to accomplish common aims. Overall, there was a sense that the Commonwealth must make itself known, and engage with citizens, at a grass-roots level. The key message participants sought to transmit to the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Trinidad is the need to develop a strong and united Commonwealth voice on the environment and make this voice heard at the vital climate change discussions in Copenhagen this December.