African Parliamentarians Urged to Fast-Track Climate Action and Methane Emissions Reduction

African parliamentarians have been urged to accelerate climate action efforts and strengthen policies aimed at reducing methane emissions as part of broader commitments to combat climate change and promote sustainable development across the continent.

Speaking during the opening ceremony of the Regional Seminar for African Parliaments on Climate Action in Nairobi, Chairperson of the Caucus on Parliamentary Conservation and Climate Change, Charity Kathambi called on lawmakers across Africa to fast-track climate legislation, enhance climate financing, support technology transfer, and integrate climate action into national development plans.

The three-day seminar, hosted by the Parliament of Kenya in collaboration with the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and supported by Climate Parliament and the Climate Vulnerable Forum, is themed “African Parliaments for Climate Action: Reducing Methane Emissions, Promoting Development.”

The meeting seeks to strengthen the role of African legislatures in addressing methane emissions from key sectors including agriculture, waste management, and energy.

Hon. Kathambi underscored the urgency of coordinated climate action, warning that African nations continue to suffer devastating climate-related disasters despite contributing the least to global greenhouse gas emissions.

She cited recent floods in Nairobi that resulted in loss of lives and widespread destruction of property as evidence of the growing climate crisis affecting the continent.

“This conference gives member states a chance to review the progress made on their climate commitments, explore new opportunities to speed up action, and discuss the challenges affecting efforts to meet the set targets,” she said.

The legislator expressed concern over the disproportionate burden borne by African countries, noting that rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts, floods, and declining agricultural productivity continue to threaten livelihoods and economic stability across the region.

Referring to findings by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Hon. Kathambi said human activities remain the leading cause of increasing greenhouse gas emissions, including methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide.

“Methane is the second largest contributor to global warming after carbon dioxide and accounts for about 30 percent of the increase in global temperatures since the industrial era,” she noted, adding that agriculture, fossil fuel activities, and waste management remain the major sources of methane emissions.

She warned that unless urgent intervention measures are adopted, climate-related disasters will continue to intensify, affecting future generations and undermining development efforts across Africa.

“If we fail to act, the climate crisis will continue to affect countries and future generations. However, reducing methane emissions quickly can help slow global warming, and this meeting will help guide future action,” she added.

The seminar has brought together Members of Parliament from various African countries alongside climate experts, policymakers, and representatives from partner organizations. Participants are expected to deliberate on legislative and policy measures aimed at strengthening climate resilience and advancing sustainable development initiatives across the continent.