In a significant call to action, Ephraim Mwepya Shitima, the Chair of the African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN), has urged African nations to take proactive steps to facilitate the active participation of legislators in climate action. Mr. Shitima underscored the pivotal oversight role that Parliaments play in shaping climate policy and ensuring its effective implementation, emphasizing their crucial involvement in the approval and monitoring of national budgets.
Underlining the importance of parliamentary involvement, Mr. Shitima highlighted how the commitments made by Parties under the Paris Agreement, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), necessitate substantial resources. African parliamentarians, he emphasized, are uniquely positioned to not only approve these national budgets but also to exercise oversight in monitoring budget performance and the execution of climate policies. In his statement, Mr. Shitima conveyed AGN’s firm belief that legislators across the continent should actively engage in climate processes.
“We are grateful to partners such as AGNES for their initiative to engage our parliamentarians, and welcome efforts from other partners to get lawmakers involved,” Mr. Shitima added, acknowledging the collaborative efforts aimed at bolstering legislative participation in climate matters.
According to the African Group of Negotiators Experts Support (AGNES), despite their pivotal role, African parliaments face significant challenges in effectively participating and fulfilling their oversight responsibilities concerning the implementation of climate response actions.
This call by AGN’s Chair, Ephraim Mwepya Shitima, highlights the growing recognition of the vital role that legislators play in shaping climate policy and underscores the need for concerted efforts to empower them in the fight against climate change. As nations strive to meet their climate commitments, the active involvement of parliamentarians in climate action is increasingly being seen as a key factor in achieving meaningful progress.
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