‘Unity’ call to address climate change problems

TDT | Manama                                                 

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com    

It is important to adopt solid plans to execute national parliamentary contributions in a bid to achieve climate action. This was emphasized by participants from various countries during a panel discussion on the third day of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) 146th Assembly.

They discussed current climate conditions and issues of various countries and ways to overcome them unitedly. Irish Senator Roisin Garvey, who led the discussion, spoke about the importance of partnership with the private sector to address environmental challenges.

Some of the private sector are brilliant at looking at the carbon emissions because they have the expertise, she said after the session.

Speaking about the efforts in Ireland to mitigate climate action, Senator Garvey spoke about how different specialised departments are working on implementing the Climate Action Plan, which is legally binding for the next 10 years. We’re doing well, because two years ago, we fought hard and we got the climate action, she said.

“Every single department has climate targets. I am the Green Party’s spokesperson for enterprise, trade and employment. So in our department, we have a target of 35% reduction,” the Senator noted.

Garvey spoke about the importance of harnessing solar energy and improving infrastructure for public transport, walking and cycling to reduce the dependence on oil resources. Tonga Parliamentary Speaker Fatafehi Fakafanua pointed out his expectation from the assembly to deliver concrete action plans for parliaments to ensure more effective accountability, urging governments to develop and implement national determined contributions.

“The global solution would be unity. We all need to act together to reduce emissions, and that includes both developed countries and developing countries bearing the front of the cost of adaptation and mitigation, and we need to come together as soon as possible,” Speaker Fakafanua said.

Research, tools, and meetings provided by the IPU help parliaments make progress on climate treaties and reduce carbon footprints. IPU’s climate change action aims to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and enhance the health of all people on earth.