Regional Parliamentary Seminar on Climate Change and Food Security: 25-26 March, Dakar
Last Updated on Wednesday, 21 September 2011 10:09 Written by Communications Intern Wednesday, 01 September 2010 15:26
During the opening session Mr. Pär Granstedt, Secretary-General of AWEPA sketched the background of the seminar: "We recognise that the North has made the greatest contribution to this global problem while Africa will suffer the most having contributed the least, and climate justice demands that the North be prepared to contribute to the solutions. We will take your message and concerns onto the agenda in Copenhagen in December".
In response, parliamentarians from nine African countries, joined by academia and experts, gathered to identify recommendations for parliamentary action in West Africa. The objective of the seminar was to increase parliamentary action through the adoption of guiding recommendations related to Climate Change and Food Security in West Africa, based on the African European Action Plan on Climate Change and Food Security adopted in August 2008.
"It is time to embrace technology, because we cannot adapt successfully to climate change without it" as Mr Marcel Galiba of the Sasakawa Africa Association pointed out. Seminar discussions focussed on the need to intensify agricultural production to meet increasing needs in West Africa.
Hon. Mr. Samba Diouldé Thiam, Member of the National Assembly of Senegal added that parliamentarians should involve the scientific community more in their parliamentary work.
"These recommendations are important for the engagement of African parliamentarians but also European parliamentarians in our joint effort to overcome climate change" said Hon. Ms. Ndèye Fatou Touré, Member of the National Assembly of Senegal and Vice President of the West African Chapter of the Parliamentary Network on the World Bank. She indicated that such a partnership is highly needed, as Africans cannot carry this burden on their own.
The Forum was co-organised by AWEPA (Association of European Parliamentarians for Africa), the Parliamentary Network on the World Bank and the African Parliamentarian's Forum for NEPAD. The welcome lunch was hosted by the Parliament of Senegal, which also provided further support for the organisation of the seminar.
An expert group, including the World Food Programme, World Bank, and the Global Water Partnership informed and challenged parliamentarians to play a more significant role in tackling this global problem. Additionally, presentations were made in plenary by the Federation of Female Associations and Women of Senegal and SOS Sahel.
Among suggestions put forward was a call by the ECOWAS Commission for involvement of parliamentarians in the preparations of West African states for the UNFCCC meeting through participation in the ECOWAS capacity building meeting for negotiators of the governmental delegations.
Giving a key note address during the closing ceremony, Member of the National Assembly, Hon. Nicole Ameline, stressed that Climate Change is a global issue warranting effective international cooperation and parliamentarians should be leading that process.
