By Nneka Nwogwugwu
Lawmakers from the Economic Community of West African States Commission (ECOWAS) have been charged to endeavour to facilitate the establishment of sustainable governance mechanism for climate change in their various countries.
The ECOWAS Commission’s Project Coordinator, Climate Change Environmental Directorate, Department of Agriculture, Environment and Water Resources, Raoul KOUAME gave the charge during his presentation before the ECOWAS Parliament Joint Committee on Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources/ Infrastructure/ Energy and Mines/ Industry and Private Sector in Bissau, Capital of Guinea Bissau on Wednesday.
He spoke on the theme: “A critical look at the ECOWAS Environmental Policy and Climate Strategy, as well as a biennial review of the agricultural production, food and nutritional security in Member States”, on the topic, “ECOWAS Environment Policy and Climate Strategy”.
According to KOUAME, Members of Parliament need to do more at addressing the effects of climate change in the sub-region by developing strategies at the national level that will make their government adopt policies for the betterment of the citizens.
The Coordinator who revealed different efforts by the commission to mitigate the effects of climate change, says more funding into the subject will go a long way at making the efforts succeed.
He said, “The environment directorate has developed some key documents which is the ECOWAS Environmental policy and also from there we draw the regional climate strategy which come along with the climate finance access and mobilization strategy for us to allow the commission to mobilize the adequate resources for the implementation of the climate change strategy and also contributing to the implementation environmental policy.
“As you know also for the implementation of such document we need to put in place some mechanism, some law at the national level where the MPs also have role to play.
“So our intention of presenting all these document is for them when going back to their different countries, they can also be aware what efforts at regional level has been taken by the commission and they also need to translate in the national law”.
In his presentation on the topic, “The Biennial Review of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Security by Member Countries”, the Director of Agriculture and Rural Development, ECOWAS Commission, Alain Sy Traoré made case for 10% budgetary allocation to agriculture in order to attend to the Malabo commitments.
He however warned that if status quo is maintained on approach to Agriculture among member states, the 2025 goal for the elimination of hunger and poverty in the sub-region will not be achieved.
Traore wants MPs to do more in their oversight functions at making sure that every fund allocated for projects are judiciously utilized.
