Stakeholders on climate change have pleaded with African leaders to domesticate the draft model climate change law in their various countries.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
They spoke on Tuesday at the Validation Retreat on the Draft Model Climate Change Law for Africa, organised by the African Group of Negotiators Expert Support, AGNES, in collaboration with the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, NILDS, and other partners in Abuja.
The retreat was titled “Strengthening National Parliaments for Oversight in Climate Action.”
The stakeholders at the occasion, mostly legal experts, lamented that the non-domestication of the draft law by many African countries has caused the continent to lose huge funds for combating environmental challenges.
The Director General of NILDS, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, while welcoming participants, stated that the year 2025 presents new challenges for global climate change governance and action in Africa.
He said advanced countries may attempt to politicise commitments to climate agreements, but the evidence from climate science remains indisputable.
He said: “The world today is warmer than it was just a few years ago. Consequently, it is essential for all countries to coordinate efforts that contribute to climate mitigation and adaptation policies, while minimising the losses and damages associated with climate change.
“Despite progress made by other regions in global climate change negotiations at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, UNFCCC, Conference of Parties, COPs, Africa continues to lag behind.
“This is largely because African countries participate in COPs as individual nations rather than as a united bloc.
“This fragmented approach weakens Africa’s negotiating power and diminishes its ability to influence critical decisions and resolutions arising from these global gatherings.
“While it is true that African countries face diverse development challenges resulting from the adverse impacts of climate change, the continent has yet to prioritise coordinated climate actions, which are desperately needed.
“A significant barrier to achieving this coordination is the lack of a comprehensive legal framework for climate action in many African countries.
“Even in countries like Nigeria that have enacted climate legislation, gaps remain that must be addressed through targeted legislative interventions.”
The team leader of AGNES, Dr George Wamukoya, said the retreat had brought together legal experts and government representatives responsible for climate change matters.
Wamukoya said the participants would examine the possible legal framework that could address all the challenges they face in drafting their laws.
“We do have a draft modern climate change law which, once the legal experts here have reviewed it and agreed upon, will be ready for rollout in different countries across Africa.
“Now, in many countries that have climate change legislation, there is conflict between the organs that have been established.
“In South Africa, for example, there is the Department of Environmental Affairs and the Presidential Commission on Climate Change.
“However, there is no clarity regarding the overlapping roles, leading to conflicts in decision-making,” he stressed.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
