By Bakary Ceesay
Nominated National Assembly Member Kebba Lang Fofana has extolled the government’s fight against climate change at the Conference of Non-Alignment Movement Parliamentary Network in Geneva, Switzerland.
“It is gratifying to note that the Gambia government, under the stewardship of President Adama Barrow, has placed the climate change menace on top of its development priorities. The Gambia has demonstrated strong ambition globally in combating climate change despite contributing less than 0.01% to global greenhouse gas emissions,” Fofana, who led the Gambian delegation, said.
He said The Gambia, particularly Banjul, is identified globally as one of the most vulnerable countries to the effects of climate change.
“To this effect, it has submitted a second nationally determined contribution (NDC 2) in 2021, whose commitment was widely commended for being the only NDC that is 1.5 oC compatible in line with the countries committed to the Paris Agreement signed on April 25, 2016,” he said.
Fofana added that the Gambia has developed an ambitious plan to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, dubbed ‘The Gambia Long-Term Neutral Development Strategy 2050’.
He assured the conference that the National Assembly of The Gambia will continue to leverage its powers to encourage the government to further commit itself to the fight against climate change.
“We are cognizant of the fact that international commitments mean nothing if they are not translated into national implementation. The Gambia will do everything within its capacity to formulate national legal instruments to mobilize emission reduction, strengthen adaptation efforts, and mitigate climate change,” he stated.
He implores his fellow parliamentarians to take resolute action before it is too late.
“Let us not fail our citizens and the young generation, who have placed their trust in us.”
Fofana said the conference held under the theme “Revitalizing Parliamentary Action to Fight Climate Change” is very apt and more relevant now than ever, given that climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time.
“The impacts of climate change are not only leading to environmental degradation but also severely undermining development gains. The climate crisis is not only a critical concern today but also for the future. We must, therefore, ensure that our children, youth, and all future generations have the right to a healthy and sustainable planet. So, let this platform be the right time and moment for action,” he added.
He said parliaments around the world must rally around strong climate action now by prioritizing clean and renewable energy initiatives, the creation of green jobs, biodiversity protection, and the implementation of the Paris Agreement.
“We can ensure legislation on climate change is both nationally appropriate and aligned with the Paris Agreement. We must also allocate adequate funding to support climate action and develop mechanisms for oversight by the government. It is high time that we moved from rhetoric to concrete action,” he said.
He said that despite governments signing a litany of climate change agreements, including the Paris Agreement, the Kyoto Protocol, and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), there has been little success in terms of mitigation and emissions.
“Therefore, it behoves parliaments and parliamentarians around the world and the Non-Aligned Movement, in particular, to engage our respective governments to deliver on their commitments,” he said.