Africa-Press – South-Sudan. South Sudan’s Transitional National Legislative Assembly on Wednesday endorsed a report from a regional meeting of parliamentarians focused on climate action and accountability.
The report, from a meeting of East African lawmakers held earlier this year in Arusha, Tanzania, emphasized strengthening collaboration between governments and parliaments to address climate change. It called for the enactment of stronger climate laws to improve oversight of policy implementation.
Presenting the report to the assembly, lawmaker Mayiik Ayii urged the Ministry of Environment and Forestry to work with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to reinforce policies that promote sustainable land use. He also appealed for the creation of a Parliamentary Climate Change Network.
Ayii said the Ministry of Environment and Forestry “should ensure construction of resilient infrastructure that can withstand climate impacts, such as flood-resistant roads and buildings.”
He added that the environment and agriculture ministries should collaborate with regional organizations on shared challenges like water management and disaster response.
Minister of Culture Nadia Arop Dudi said it is critical for South Sudan to act on climate change, noting the country has experienced its impacts directly.
“Climate change is something that has affected all of us all over the world,” Dudi said. “It’s very important for us as people of South Sudan to know what’s in the policies of the ministry of environment and see what is missing.”
Permmena Awerial, the assembly’s second deputy speaker, said the report was important because it contained specific recommendations for ministries.
He called on the committee on East African parliamentary affairs to ensure relevant ministries receive copies of the report and its recommendations.
“Since the report has been passed, you have to serve those ministries such that they see what you have brought,” Permmena said. “The ministries need to adopt the report.”
He also encouraged lawmakers to learn from other nations’ experiences.
“We have to get experience of other nations and come to implement them. Nobody or country is an island. We’re all connected and we get to learn from one another,” he said.
The regional report also recommended that parliamentary leadership designate climate change champions within national, regional and continental legislatures.
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