Africa contributes only 3% to global emissions but suffers severe impacts of climate change. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that Africa has been losing up to 10% of its GDP to climate response efforts. National parliaments in plays essential roles in the development of responsive climate policies to address these issues by providing legislative supports for sustainable solutions that seek to counter negative impacts at local scale. National parliaments could improve the legislative landscape and supervision that guarantee implementation of climate actions. They are responsible for ensuring that resources committed towards climate change adaptation and mitigation are well utilized. Therefore, parliament roles in championing accountability and sustainable utilization of resources in West Africa region cannot be overemphasized. It is against this context that the African Group of Negotiators Experts Support (AGNES) in partnership with the National Parliament of Liberia, the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), the National Institute of Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL), and other partners, convened the Second West African Sub-Regional Parliamentarian Meeting on Strengthening Capacity of National Parliaments on Oversight in Climate Action Accountability and Reporting on 17th – 19th July 2024 in Monrovia, Liberia.
Analyzing the Second West African Parliamentary Meeting
The Second West African Parliamentary Meeting focused on enhancing the oversight of climate action with the aim to improve the ability of national parliaments to scrutinize and assess government actions, thereby promote transparency in the implementation of climate policies and funding. Africa requires approximately $53 billion per year between the fiscal year 2020/2025 and 2025/2030 for adaptation. The parliamentarian forum creates opportunity to dialogue in the efforts to close this adaptation gap through the mobilization of more domestic and external resources with appropriate climate change legislation as instrument to drive the process towards climate resilience.
The meeting discussed the growing realization of the need to raise more funds and change the approach in the fight against climate change. It was pointed out that parliamentary means are relevant for monitoring compliance with climate measures. There was a discussion on how improved oversight might result in improved management of climate finance with focus on national climate change legislation as a key component in implementing climate action, especially linking the goals outlined in the Paris Agreement to national initiatives.
Key pointers from the Parliamentary Climate Change meeting
Parliamentary Measures to Promote Climate Responsibility
Oversight is a major responsibility of the legislators around the world including in Africa. Interpellations and ombudsmans are possible oversight tools that can be used by African legislators to enact climate change laws, however, members of national parliaments must also understand the peculiar circumstances of their people, climate change, and possible solutions to enable them ask the right questions. Parliamentarians should use their positions to enlighten their constituents on the impacts of climate change and necessary steps to achieve sustainable development by ensuring that all state entities commit to net zero emissions. National parliaments can help improve the transparency of climate actions being taken by the government on the issue of climate change.
Some of the promising practices in climate adaptation and mitigation
The participants shared their first-hand experiences on climate change impacts in the West Africa region. The establishment of early warning systems in high-risk areas was presented as one of the most significant successes. The aim is to demonstrate to the parliamentarians that there are some scientific tools in key sectors of crop production, water management and disaster risk management, available to them to provide evidence to assist parliaments in oversight and decision making.
These examples demonstrated positive outcomes associated with good climate policies and projects. The success stories validate the role of regionalism in dealing with climate matters which underscores the function of the legislative committees on advocacy in addressing the impacts from climate change. By using effective means of monitoring tools, the West African parliaments are better placed to analyze successful climate policy implementation models.
Managing Implementation Challenges through Parliaments
Tackling Barriers to Climate Action: Financial Issues
Parliaments discussed the pressing need for improved and more effective climate finance. The region stressed the importance of increasing national budgeting for climate action. Others were measures for the parliaments to mobilize international resources for the national development and continue enhancing their system in a bid to avoid misuse of these funds.
Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation for Optimal Climate Policies
The meeting approved the concept of enhancing inter-parliamentary cooperation in pursuit of reliable climate legislation. International collaboration is crucial in synchronizing adaptation and mitigation activities across borders. It also offers a ground for the dissemination of best practices and technologies through regional cooperation and partnerships to promote climate resilience programmes. National parliaments, therefore, strive to enhance efficiency and extend climate action undertakings through resource management and collaboration as a regional West Africa bloc.
Parliamentary climate responsibilities – moving forward
Legislators were identified as champions to be called upon whenever the need arises to learn more and understand the effects of climate change on the overall national development agenda. They must know how the climate negotiation landscapes are rapidly evolving and improve on their national or regional efforts for more ambitious climate change legislations.
Conclusion
The Second West African Parliamentary Meeting is a clear evolution towards preventive and exhaustive climate action. West African parliaments have noted need for enhanced and effective monitoring and legislations to support climate policy implementations. These actions will strengthen regional efforts on the means for accountability to assist lawmakers for proper implementation of climate initiatives.