ParlAmericas participated in COP28 and held events at the first ever parliamentary pavilion
ParlAmericas participated in this year’s 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) which was held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates from Nov 30, 2023 to Dec 12, 2023. Representing ParlAmericas as well as their respective countries at COP28 were Senator the Honourable Rosa Galvez (Canada), President of the ParlAmericas Parliamentary Network on Climate Change and Sustainability; the Honourable Dessima Williams (Grenada), President of the Senate and ParlAmericas Board Member; and the Honourable Carolyn Trench-Sandiford (Belize), President of the Senate and ParlAmericas Board Member. Alongside Alisha Todd, Director General of ParlAmericas, their participation in COP28 included an agenda of meetings and discussions with diverse stakeholders including fellow parliamentarians, international organizations, academics and youth.
COP28 marked a major milestone for the UNFCCC parliamentary group of which ParlAmericas is a founding member, as this was the first Conference to feature a parliamentary pavilion. Recognizing that national legislatures are key in advancing climate action globally as well as in the Americas and the Caribbean, ParlAmericas hosted spaces for parliamentary exchanges within the pavilion.
On December 4, ParlAmericas held an official side event that convened parliamentarians from the Americas and the Caribbean and subject matter experts to examine the important role parliaments can play to strengthen gender-transformative environmental democracy through the Escazú Agreement and Action for Climate Empowerment. The session’s panel was moderated by Alisha Todd, Director General of ParlAmericas, and featured the Honourable Dessima Williams (Grenada), President of the Senate and ParlAmericas Board Member; the Honourable Carolyn Trench-Sandiford (Belize), President of the Senate and ParlAmericas Board Member; Honourable Representative Juan Carlos Losada (Colombia); and Carlos de Miguel, Head of the Sustainable Development and Human Settlements Division at the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). Senator the Honourable Rosa Galvez (Canada), President of the ParlAmericas Parliamentary Network on Climate Change and Sustainability, inaugurated the session and delivered final reflections highlighting discussion outcomes on promising parliamentary efforts to align national laws, budgets, and plans with the Escazú Agreement and on how the citizenry can be empowered on environmental matters.
On December 5, ParlAmericas and GLOBE Legislators hosted an inter-parliamentary dialogue for Latin American parliamentarians. The session facilitated the exchange of national legislative practices and aimed to strengthen regional collaboration on climate action for the fulfillment of the climate commitments made by governments. On this day, ParlAmericas delegates also participated in panels hosted by GLOBE Legislators to address the role of women parliamentarians in advancing climate action and the potential of different political parties coming together to address the climate challenge.
On December 6, ParlAmericas delegates attended the meeting hosted by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Federal National Council of UAE which brought together parliamentary representatives from across the globe to examine the current climate landscape and recent scientific advancements, as well as address the gaps in climate adaptation and mitigation efforts and exchange good practices. The discussions and learnings of the session aim to support urgent parliamentary climate action both nationally and internationally to translate COP commitments into actionable realities.
Quotes
Senator the Honourable Rosa Galvez (Canada), President of the ParlAmericas Parliamentary Network on Climate Change and Sustainability
“We as parliamentarians can be key actors in steering the region toward comprehensive and transformative environmental governance that ensures all members of our society are not only aware of their rights but are also empowered to exercise them.”
Senator the Honourable Carolyn Trench-Sandiford (Belize), President of the Senate and ParlAmericas Board Member
“Parliament, in addition to its oversight and scrutiny functions, can also champion the diverse Multilateral Agreements, including the Paris Agreement. For example we signed the Declaration of Intent with the UN country office in Belize to have the parliament partner on building awareness and knowledge of all the agreements that Belize has signed. Parliaments have a unique ability to contribute to the development and implementation of the country’s national climate commitments through our diverse functions.“
