DURBAN (South Africa), Dec 2 (NNN-SANEWS) — Over 300 delegates attending the 58th Plenary Session of the SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) in Durban have expressed confidence in the forum’s potential to advance stronger regional responses to climate change.
This year’s programme focuses on “The Impact of Climate Change on Women and Youth, and the Role of SADC Parliamentarians in Mitigation and Adaptation.”
South Africa is hosting the week-long session, which opened with an optimistic opening address by Speaker of the National Assembly, Thoko Didiza, who reminded delegates that legislatures across the region are not bystanders in the climate crisis, but central players in shaping effective responses.
“Parliamentarians’ roles must extend beyond simply approving budgets to embrace active, intentional and transformative climate change interventions,” Didiza said.
On mitigation efforts, Didiza said national legislatures must align their frameworks with international and regional commitments, including outcomes of the Conference of the Parties (COP), the Paris Agreement, and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) climate change strategy.
“This means enacting laws that incentivises cleaner and renewable energy. Mandating sustainable land use and water management practices. Crucially, we must introduce and monitor climate change acts that have established clear national targets, institutional responsibilities, and accountable mechanisms,” Didiza said.
Didiza expressed confidence that the symposium will help regional lawmakers strengthen coordinated approaches to mitigate the impact of climate change, particularly on vulnerable groups.
Addressing the gathering virtually, Deputy President Paul Mashatile outlined South Africa’s ongoing efforts to respond to the climate change crisis.
He noted that climate change remains a top priority on the global agenda, with world leaders at recent G20 engagements reaffirming commitments to accelerate action.
The Deputy President highlighted that SADC is one of the most climate-vulnerable regions globally, with women and young people facing disproportionate impacts, including increased work burdens, exposure to gender-based violence, exploitation, and health risks.
He emphasised that SADC parliaments hold a vital mandate and play a “multifaceted role” in promoting effective and equitable climate action through their functions related to legislation, oversight, and representation.
“Immediately, we must enact laws and strengthen our policies to align with regional agreements on climate change. We must also promote gender sensitive policies by introducing legislation that ensures a just and equitable approach; and mandates the mainstreaming of gender consideration in all climate policies,” Mashatile said.
These reforms call for strengthened oversight accountability, whereby parliaments would hold governments accountable for their performance in implementing domestic climate laws, regional commitments and international obligations, the Deputy President noted.
He also underscored the need to allocate sufficient resources for climate mitigation and adaptation programmes, particularly those targeting vulnerable groups. — NNN-SANEWS