Ahead of the COP27 conference in Egypt, lawmakers across Nigeria, the Gambia, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Liberia have met to discuss Africa’s position on Climate Change.
During the virtual meeting which was convened by the Parliamentarian’s Call for Fossil Free Future, the lawmakers discussed the failure of world leaders to implement the agreement on Fossil Fuel reduction and also proffered a way forward for the continent.
A lawmaker from the Gambia, Buba Khan called for the lawmakers to join the Parliamentarian’s Call for Fossil Fuel-Free Future and present a united front at the COP27 conference.
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He said that over 500 parliamentarians have so far signed up for the fossil fuel-free future, adding that the time has come for Africa to look inward and also decide to join the global campaign to make the world a better place.
“This campaign is about a fossil-free future,” he was quoted as saying. “This means the emission that is being generated worldwide, we need to find means to reduce them”.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Environment, Eguma Johnson, said that developed countries have a responsibility to provide support for African countries to access alternative energy sources.
He argued that developed countries have a moral obligation to assist in the process of transitioning to cleaner energy since their industrial activities contribute the most to global warming.
“The greatest contributors to this global warming are the industrialised nations. The alternative to fossil fuel is quite expensive and as poor nations in Africa–what we need to–at least be assisted by the major contributors to this global warming,” said Johnson.
Johnson maintained that lawmakers must provide the legislative framework to guide the process of transition in the face of inaction by the executive.
Story was adapted from Premium Times.
