PAP to host 3rd African Parliamentarians Summit on Climate Policy and Equity

The Pan-African Parliament will host the 3rd African Parliamentarians Summit on Climate Policy and Equity scheduled to take place on May 16 – 17 on the sidelines of the Second Ordinary Session of the Sixth Parliament of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP). The Session is scheduled to hold from 15 May to 02 June 2023 at the seat of the Parliament in Midrand, South Africa.

This was disclosed on Wednesday by the President of PAP, H.E. Hon. Chief Fortune Charumbira during a working visit to the Republic of Kenya where he held talks with the President of the Republic of Kenya, H.E. William Ruto at the State House in Nairobi, Kenya. Charumbira had earlier met with Rt. Hon. Moses Wetangula, Speaker of the National Assembly.

H.E. Hon. Chief Charumbira used the occasion of the visit to extend an invitation to President Ruto to grace the 3rd African Parliamentarians Summit on Climate Policy and Equity, to be hosted by the Pan-African Parliament on 16-17 May 2023. The goal of the Summit, according to the PAP President is to galvanize a critical mass of stakeholders capable of catalyzing broad support for pro-poor, just, equitable, locally-led and science-based decisions in NDCs implementation and overall climate action.

In his speech, President Ruto called on the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) to be the continent’s standard-bearer on issues affecting African citizens. These include issues related to intra-African trade, climate change, and democracy, and good governance.

He asked the Pan-African Parliament to play a role in the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which presents immense opportunities for exponential economic growth through trade and investment. The implementation of the AfCFTA is in line with the African Union theme for 2023, and it is guiding the work of the Continental Parliament throughout this year.

“Today, Africa contributes only three percent of global trade, yet it has 17 percent of the world’s population and market,” President Ruto said. “By 2050, Africa will be home to 25 percent of the world’s population and a huge market. We must organise the African market to work for us and not to work for others”.

Furthermore, President Ruto and H.E. Hon. Chief Charumbira extensively exchanged on the issue of climate change and its increasing threat to the continent. President Ruto said it was time for Africa to end the use of fossil fuels and embrace renewable sources of energy, adding that the continent has the largest untapped reservoirs of clean energy.