By Nelson Manneh
The Westminster Foundation on Tuesday, 22 October 2024 engaged members of the National Assembly Select Committee on Environment and staff of the Assembly on shaping climate change legislature
The engagement aimed to identify gaps in existing legislation and policies, and explore their broader implications.
Through in-depth discussions, participants shared their expertise, insights, and recommendations to craft actionable solutions that will shape future legislation. Mrs Tabu Njie Sarr, the Director of the West Minister Foundation, said the Environmental Democracy project is funded by the WFD and run by the National Assembly Select Committee on Environment. She added that the project deals with issues relating to the shaping of climate change legislation.
“The climate crises which the World is facing are real and the Gambia as a country is not exceptional,” she said.
She said the Gambia as a country is aspiring a review of climate-related laws at the National Assembly, and the Assembly has a crucial role to play in the development of the Act.
The project has four phases, one of which is the recently launched project. She said the current event seeks to open up discussions that will help in the process of developing the Climate Change Act.
“As NAMs, you are expected to take the issues of climate change seriously, engage the people at your constituencies, and make sure that their views are captured in the document,” she said.
Mrs Njie added that after they engage with the National Assembly, they will be engaging other stakeholders in the process of developing the document.
Mr Marabi Hydara, the Director of Committees at the National Assembly who addressed the gathering on behalf of the office of the Clark of the National Assembly, said as the Gambia faces sea rise among other climate change issues, the assembly recognized that there is a need to come up with a document that will address climate change crises.
He said that the role of the NAMs is beyond holding institutions to account, but to make sure oversight functions are carried out.
“It is through your participation that we can develop an Act that will reflect the issues of climate change in the Gambia and how they can be mitigated,” he added.
He continued: “Together let us ensure that we come up with a document that will reflect the realities of climate change and how they could be addressed.”
Honourable Yahya Gassama, the chairperson of the National Assembly Select Committee on Environment, said the agenda has spelled out how they need to work to develop the Climate Change Act.
He said that climate change is a cross-cutting issue and the government of the Gambia is a signatory to some international conventions on climate change.
“National Assembly Members play a crucial role in the process of mitigating climate change and today we have gathered here to look at ways in which we can address the rising climate crises.
“As we engage in this consultation, let us remember that our environment is the backbone of our economy, therefore, we need to protect it,” he said.
He urged the participants to be more focused to gather more insight and information during the presentations.
