The Assembly has today debated and adopted a crucial report of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee (ATNR) on Climate Change. In the deliberations, EALA notes that climate change is hampering agriculture, affecting natural resources and largely degrading the environment and advocates for a multi-disciplinary approach towards mitigating on the adverse environmental impacts. In a related move, the Assembly also passed a key Resolution on Climate Change enumerating a raft of critical areas for consideration.
The report presented to the House by Hon Isabelle Ndahayo, Chair of the ATNR Committee, urges Parliamentarians to fully participate in the consolidation of Africa’s common position on climate change and to focus on priority areas of interest within the international arena. It states that EAC has a unique opportunity to influence climate change negotiations given the institutional arrangements including the EALA, Lake Victoria Basin Commission as well as the technical mandate as enshrined by the Treaty for the Establishment of the EAC.
It thus recommends that a stand – alone Committee that adequately addresses technical and strategic issues on climate change be formed by EALA. At the same time, the EAC Secretariat and the EALA are urged to collaborate to ensure the full operationalisation of the EAC Climate Change Fund while the Council of Ministers should bring a Bill on the same to the House.
It is further recommended that Members of EALA and those from National Parliaments actively accelerate the regional and national adaptation and mitigation responses informed by the best available scientific information. The report emphasizes, such a move, be arrived at by reinforcing efforts at the regional and international arena under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) negotiations.
The report emanates from a workshop organized by EAC Secretariat and the EALA on November 11-13, 2012 in Mwanza, Tanzania. The objective of the workshop themed: Climate Change Workshop for Parliamentarians was to sensitise Members on key climate change issues and to identify entry points for EALA on the policy and practice issues. In attendance were EALA Members, EAC Secretariat and Partner States’ representatives and officials from COMESA.
During the debate today, Hon Leonce Ndarubagiye noted that survival of humankind was key and reiterated that declining changes in the atmosphere would have serious repercussions on the environment. Hon Christophe Bazivamo remarked that climate change was a challenging issue impacting negatively on the region and the continent. “Today we see devastating floods, drought, environmental degradation and other disasters affecting productivity and we must take rapid measures to contain them. We as EALA must play a key role in advocacy issues”, the legislator remarked.
In his contribution, Hon Mike Sebalu noted that weather patterns were changing with the water levels falling to considerably low levels hitherto unseen. He decried the scenario of unpredictability of climate and remarked that Parliamentary intervention was of the essence and relevant in dealing with the matter. The legislator called for the building of synergies between the different Regional Economic Communities to have joint mechanisms and strategies of mitigating climate change.
Hon Abubakar Zein Abubakar noted that the warming and rising of the sea level was a notable challenge. He also reiterated that if unchecked, water could lead to a situation that could escalate conflicts in the region.
Hon Judith Pareno remarked that it was important for the EALA Members to sensitise the publics on the effects of climate change. “We have seen the menace of the water hyacinth, dwindling levels of water among other effects and it is important that we act first”, she added, while calling on the EAC to finalise and implement the various draft EAC documents.
Hon Abdullah Mwinyi lamented that the ozone layer was been depleted through increase of emissions in the atmosphere. He urged the Council of Ministers to shed more light on the effect of Chlorofluorocarbon emissions (CFCs) on the ozone layer especially with regards to the importation of refrigeration facilities from South East Asia. Hon Mwinyi noted that green house gases were been affected by the continuous cutting down of trees. “Members, we must re-dress this matter by planting more trees as one of the far reaching and tangible modes, he said.
The EAC Secretary General, Amb Richard Sezibera said the bloc was concerned about the effects of climate change and commended EALA for the novel idea towards supporting tree-planting initiatives.
Others who supported the report were Hon Hafsa Mossi, Hon Dan Kidega, Hon Abdulkarim Harelimana, Hon Nancy Abisai
The Deputy Minister of EAC in the United Republic of Tanzania, Hon Dr. Abdulla J.A. Saadalla noted that food scarcity was worrisome and remarked that the EAC was looking at the issues revolving around climate change bilaterally and collectively.
The Chair of Council, Hon Shem Bageine lauded the ATNR Committee for gathering knowledge adding that the Council would fully implement the report. He said the region would need to check on all matters affecting climate change in an effort to reverse the trend. “The Council of Ministers is an avenue where decisions are made and forwarded to the Partner States but Members of the House literally ‘walk the talk’, Hon Bageine noted.
He assured the House that regional documents approved by the Council of Ministers were now been incorporated in to the National plans of the Partner States.
The Resolution on its part, inter alia urges Partner States to ratify the EAC Protocol on Environment and Natural Resources management as well as the consolidation of a common position on climate change with a view of feeding into the African common position on climate change.
The Resolution succinctly urges EAC Secretariat and Partner States to promote joint actions in the implementation of multilateral environment agreements (MEAs).
With this also comes the call for the establishment of a Regional Climate Change Parliamentarians Forum to enhance the understanding on issues related to climate change and to network with National Parliaments.
The Resolution was supported by Hon Dr. Odette Nyiramilimo, Hon Mike Sebalu, Hon AbuBakr Ogle, Hon Patricia Hajabakiga, Hon Sarah Bonaya and Hon Dr. Perpetue Kessy Nderakindo.
The EAC has over the last few years realized some key achievements. The EAC Climate Change Policy was approved by the Heads of State during the 9th Extra-Ordinary Summit held in April 2011 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Also developed are draft EAC Climate Change Strategy, draft operational modalities for the EAC Climate Change Master Plan and a corresponding draft Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Strategy.
Analysts note that sectors of the economy play key roles in food security, poverty reduction and sustainable development in general and that such sectors remain vulnerable to climate variability.
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