George Sanzila
Speaker of the National Assembly, Professor Peter Katjavivi has stated that even though Namibia’s carbon footprint is negligible, the country has nonetheless felt the effects of climate change that continue to disrupt the livelihood of ordinary people as the majority of citizens heavily rely on subsistence agriculture to survive.
Katjavivi said this when officials from the African Group of Negotiators Experts Support (AGNES) paid a courtesy call on him Monday. The not-for-profit think tank that focuses on climate change capacity-building initiatives, plans to hold its second Southern Africa Parliamentarian Regional Meeting on strengthening the capacity of national parliaments on oversights in climate action accountability and reporting in Namibia from 31st July – 2nd August 2024. The first meeting in southern Africa, was held with the National Assembly of Botswana and other stakeholders in September 2023.
Katjavivi maintained that it was important to be proactive, adding that in a vulnerable country like Namibia, preparedness should be prioritized. “We are affected by recurrent droughts and floods. We should use the event to raise awareness and also to sharpen the understanding of lawmakers so that when we do our oversight, we are able to perform our duty efficiently. There is also a need to strengthen planning at all levels of government so that when these disasters occur, we are better prepared,” implored Katjavivi.
Research Associate at the institution, Shadrack Arum Auma, underscored the importance of parliamentary functions in climate mitigation measures, stating that the meeting will provide a platform for the exchange of ideas between policymakers, experts and negotiators in the quest for better climate adaptation. “We know that parliament plays a critical role in climate change solutions through its functions of representation, oversight, legislative and budget approval. We want to go further by developing model climate change laws that can be domesticated as many countries face challenges in developing their own climate laws. It is important that we capacitate our lawmakers to be able to achieve these goals,” noted Auma.
As part of efforts to reduce global warming, Namibia has joined other countries that have ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement, all protocols aimed at limiting global warming to acceptable standards. Over 70 participants from across the 16 SADC member states are expected to attend the event, including local stakeholders such the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and the Environmental Investment Fund (EIF).
*George Sanzila works for the National Assembly in the Division: Research, Information, Publications and Editorial Services*