South African MPS to visit Westminster and Holyrood to discuss climate action with DECC Minister
PRETORIA, South-Africa, October 27, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Hon. CT Frolick, House Chairperson of the South African Parliament and a cross-party delegation will visit London from 31 October to 4 November. The party will meet UK Minister of State for Climate Change, Greg Barker MP, and the CEO of the Committee on Climate Change, Mr. David Kennedy, to discuss climate action policy in the legislation arena. They will also visit sites of green investment and renewable energy projects. The aim of the programme is to share knowledge of the role of Parliamentarians in climate change policy and legislation development, and explore together the oversight responsibilities they hold as well as discussing respective roles in green policy, structures for cross-government coordination on climate action and the part that private and public sectors can play in green development.
Speaking from South Africa, where he attended a pre-COP 17 meeting last week, Minister Barker said that he was looking forward to welcoming the delegation of South African Parliamentarians to London and to “discussing how our two countries are making the low carbon transition”. He added that, “it is clear that South Africa is playing a really valuable role as President of this year’s COP 17 and is determined to make as much progress as possible”.
As well as focusing on the capacity of both Parliaments to scrutinise and adopt green legislation and policy, this study visit will in the short term enhance input into the 17th Conference of the Parties on the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP17) taking place in Durban later this year. Hon. Frolick said “The visit to the UK House of Commons and the Scottish Parliament by senior Members of Parliament is significant because it will provide law makers an opportunity to exchange ideas and experiences, on the need for common actions from the parliaments to deal with climate change. I am convinced that the discussions and deliberations will contribute towards a positive outcome in Durban and will provide the platform for future collaboration between South African and British MPs.”
Mr Tim Yeo MP, Chair of the Select Committee for Climate Change, who visited South Africa in August said, “Strengthening links between politicians who are focused on tackling climate change is crucial and this is why I am particularly pleased to be meeting South African MPs before COP 17 takes place in Durban.”
Mr. Kennedy will meet the South African delegates to examine the role of different stakeholders in renewable energy and sustainable development, with an emphasis on the importance of independent research, advice and reporting on climate change. Speaking from London he said that he was “looking forward to meeting the cross-party delegation and sharing our experiences with them, and to find out more about what action is being taken in South Africa to reduce emissions”.
The delegation is part of a programme of work by the Association of European Parliamentarians with Africa (AWEPA) in collaboration with the FCO focused on climate change mitigation. The visit to the Houses of Parliament and the Scottish Parliament is organised by the British High Commission in South Africa (BHC South Africa), the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK (CPA UK), the Scottish Parliament and AWEPA.
Notes for editors:
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK Branch (CPA UK) is one of the largest branches of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, the professional association of all Commonwealth parliamentarians. CPA UK’s membership is made up of Members from all parties and both Houses of the United Kingdom Parliament. Through dialogue, CPA UK undertakes international parliamentary outreach on behalf of the Houses of Parliament and the wider CPA. With a specific focus on parliamentary diplomacy and parliamentary strengthening activities, CPA UK seeks to foster co-operation and understanding between parliaments, promote good parliamentary practice and advance parliamentary democracy.
The Association of European Parliamentarians with Africa (AWEPA) works in partnership with African parliaments to strengthen parliamentary democracy in Africa, keep Africa high on the political agenda in Europe, and facilitate African-European parliamentary dialogue. AWEPA’s overarching goal is to eradicate poverty and support the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals, through the realisation of human rights, democracy and development in Africa. AWEPA is an international parliamentary association that is strictly non-partisan. AWEPA has Special Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council and is on the list of ODA Eligible Organisations of OECD/DAC.
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Association of European Parliamentarians with Africa (AWEPA)
