Published: July 22, 2024
Monrovia – The Second West African Parliamentarian Regional Meeting on climate action concluded a successful three-day training session in Monrovia, Liberia, aimed at enhancing the capacity of national parliaments in overseeing climate action accountability and reporting. The event, which took place from July 17 to 19, brought together parliamentarians from across West Africa to address the pressing threats of climate change on the continent.
Attendees included members of parliament from Sierra Leone, Ghana, Benin, Mali, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Gambia, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, and Liberia. The meeting served as a platform for parliamentarians to discuss strategies and methods to combat greenhouse gas emissions and build climate-resilient societies.
In his opening remarks, Senator Simeon B. Taylor, Chairman of the Liberian Senate Committee on Lands, Mines, Energy, Natural Resources, and Environment, emphasized the critical need for increased financial support in the fight against climate change. He called on his fellow parliamentarians to develop innovative strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve on the gains made from the first meeting held in Lagos, Nigeria.
“Focus your deliberations on engaging major players in the fight to build a climate-resilient society. It is imperative to direct a significant portion of climate funds to the African continent, as our countries require substantial financial resources to respond to the climate crisis,” Senator Taylor urged.
Hon. Dweh Boley, Deputy Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Liberia, welcomed the parliamentarians on behalf of EPA’s Executive Director, Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo. Boley highlighted the severe environmental challenges Liberia faces, including flooding, erosion, beach mining, water scarcity, biodiversity loss, and deforestation. He stressed the importance of sustainable development and urged participants to work towards practical solutions.
Professor Dr. Abubarkar Sulaimani of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Services of Nigeria reiterated the prioritization of climate change in Nigeria’s national agenda from 2024 to 2028. He expressed Nigeria’s commitment to working with the African Group of Negotiators Experts Supports (AGNES) to address climate change, emphasizing the need for sustainable waste disposal practices and robust legislative frameworks.
Hon. Kwame Adabail, representing the African Union Development Agency, underscored the critical role of parliaments in shifting, overseeing, and implementing effective climate policies. “Parliaments are mandated to draft, debate, and enact legislation that drives climate action. Through well-crafted laws, parliaments can set ambitious targets for climate adaptation and build resilient societies,” he stated.
The meeting highlighted the achievements of AGNES, created in 2015 to provide scientific expertise and evidence to inform a common African position in climate change negotiations. AGNES has played a vital role in developing and defending positions on agriculture and gender, leading to significant outcomes such as the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture and the Gender Action Plan at COP23.
The Second West African Regional Forum on Oversights in Climate Actions Accountability and Reporting concluded with several key recommendations, including raising awareness among parliamentarians about national and international climate commitments, sharing best practices in climate law formulation, ensuring effective resource allocation for climate action, and enhancing accountability and transparency mechanisms.
The event, hosted by the Liberian Legislature in collaboration with the EPA of Liberia, showcased Liberia’s efforts in climate change governance and solicited commitments towards establishing a legal framework for climate action. It also provided opportunities for networking, experience sharing, and addressing challenges across West Africa.
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