National Assembly and Francophone Counterpart explore Possibilities of Co-operation to Address Climate Change
The Speaker of the National Assembly, Mohamed Bamba Meguett, in the presence of the Minister of Culture, Arts, Communication and Relations with Parliament, Spokesperson of the Government, Mr. El Houssein Ould Medou, in Nouakchott, oversaw the launch of a regional cooperation workshop on climate change, organized in partnership between the Mauritanian National Assembly and the Francophone Parliamentary Assembly (APF).
The two-day workshop aims to facilitate access to environment and climate finance as well as support the resilience of the populations of the Sahel region and its neighboring countries.
The workshop will discuss topics related to strengthening the legislative capacities of parliamentarians, the need to develop a climate legislative code, the promotion of shared intelligence, and the monitoring of government action.
In a speech on the occasion, the President of the National Assembly explained that the Mauritanian government, under the high instructions of President of the Republic Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, is working on everything that would preserve ecosystems and biological diversity and combat climate change and environmental pollution, noting that it has committed the economic, oil, fishing and environment sectors to give priority in their development programmes to issues related to climate and the environment.
The Mauritanian parliamentary team, in coordination with these sectors, is carrying out extensive sensitization activities, he said, noting that the team recently hosted the General Assembly of the Alliance of Parliamentarians and Local Elected Officials for the Protection of the Environment in the Sahel.
The meeting resulted in the restructuring of the alliance and the development of a roadmap to revitalize its structures and make them fit for the climate challenges, he said.
He added that everyone must realize that Africa, which represents 17% of the world’s population and despite its limited contribution to global warming, is now facing more than others, especially the Sahel countries, the disastrous effects of climate change on their economies and investments in infrastructure, increasing the levels of poverty, displacement, migration, malnutrition and the risk of conflict over resources.
The President of the National Assembly recalled the various risks suffered by the Sahelian countries, thanking the International Organization of la Francophonie and the Parliamentary Assembly of la Francophonie for their active contribution to the organization of this forum.