Mozambique, Namibia Presidents want to boost ‘economic diplomacy’
SADC Parliamentary Forum discusses climate change
8:24 CAT | 22 Jul 2019
Photos: Presidencia da Republica de Moçambique
Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi on Sunday called for an assessment of the degree of compliance with the measures and protocols approved for reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases, and mitigating the effects of climate change.
He was speaking in Maputo at the opening of the 45th plenary session of the SADC (Southern African Development Community) Parliamentary Forum, held under the theme “Climate Change: Mitigation and Adaptation – the role of parliament in implementing the Paris Declaration”.
Nyusi pointed out that Mozambique has made almost no contribution to pollution, yet it stands to be one of the main victims of climate change.
The meeting, he added, came at an opportune moment and one of deep significance for Mozambique, in the wake of cyclones Idai and Kenneth, which hit the country in March and April, leaving a trail of death and destruction.
Nyusi said it is urgent to assess the degree of compliance with the Katowice climate package by the developed countries, which are the source of most emissions of greenhouse gases. The Katowice package was adopted at a conference in Poland in December 2018.
Looking back in history, Nyusi said that climate change was kick-started by the Industrial Revolution, with its reliance on the burning of fossil fuels. Recent studies indicate that the level of greenhouses gases in the atmosphere is now 30 per cent higher than before the Industrial Revolution.
The pace of climate change has been accelerating, and the last ten years have been the warmest on record.
Aware of the vulnerability of the southern African region to extreme climatic events, said Nyusi, Mozambique has been implementing the undertakings given in the SADC climate change strategy and under the Paris accord.
These envisage the “decarbonisation” of the world economy, in order to reduce emissions of such gases as carbon dioxide.
He stressed that Mozambique is fighting against deforestation, and has reserved 30 per cent of its territory for conservation areas. This percentage could rise with the approval of the National Plan for Territorial Organisation.
Nyusi urged members of the Parliamentary Forum to advocate vigorously for updating the SAC Strategy and Plan of Action on climate change, including concerted action, research and sharing of information to better manage the impacts of the natural disasters to which the region is exposed.
Nyusi also expressed his support for transforming the Forum into a southern African regional parliament.
Since parliaments usually contain several political parties, the establishment of a regional parliament would help guarantee the consolidation of citizens’ rights, and the building of democratic states ruled by law.
“This means giving more opportunities to citizens of various countries to participate in decision making”, Nyusi declared.
Source: AI
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