National Council of Provinces (NCOP) chairperson Amos Masondo has urged stronger and more sustainable interventions across all spheres of government and society to halt and reverse the harmful effects of climate change.

Over 60 legislatures, inclusive of sub-national structures, were attending the Africa’s Commonwealth Speakers and Presiding Officers Conference in Cameroon, where Masondo spoke. 

The conference heard debates on the devastating effects of climate change and its contribution to losses in arable land, agricultural revenue and business opportunities.

Inputs from various member legislatures included the proposal that all Parliaments execute their oversight mandate, ensure a climate-responsive budget that helps empower the successful execution of interventions, and introduce proper carbon pricing which could generate billions for the continent.

The conference also looked into what African Parliaments could do to expedite the successful execution of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement.

National Assembly speaker Nosiviwe Nqakula was also in attendance and decried the perpetuation of raw material exports and the absence of beneficiation on the continent.

“The promotion of ‘intra African’ trade remains an imperative to boosting African economies and make it possible to address the triple challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment in our various societies all around the continent,” she said.

Nqakula has called on African Parliaments to advance responsive and agile budgetary processes to deal with the identified areas of trade among African countries, including the gender dimensions of growth and development.

“As a continent with rich mineral and energy resources, I am compelled to mention that our mineral reproduction, trade, and investments require urgent collective attention beyond policies and our debates. We continue to produce and export raw materials, yet our countries continue to suffer from deindustrialisation and poor beneficiation. Our industrial policies need serious consideration and rethinking, so that we become the main beneficiaries to address unemployment of young people and other related constraints,” she added.

On the last day of the conference, on Friday, Masondo is expected to give an address on how Parliaments could rebuild public trust to strengthen openness, transparency, accountability and meaningful citizen and stakeholder engagement.

At the end of the conference, decisions will be taken regarding the steps the continent needs to take to realise the ideals espoused in the Africa Agenda 2063 and the global Sustainable Development Goals.