MPs feel sidelined on climate change issues

Chairperson of the Agriculture and Natural resources Committee of Parliament David Luka has said the battle against climate change cannot easily be won because most members of Parliament are sidelined on climate change issues.

Speaking during the launch of a study on Assessment of Agricultural Sector Policies and Climate Change in Malawi in Lilongwe on Thursday, Luka said most organisations championing the fight against climate change are not involving MPs.

Said Luka: “As members of Parliament, we have a forum, which religiously follow us and if we are to be used in the fight against climate change, then we can make a huge difference. The issues of climate change have a huge bearing in the agricultural sector and if nothing is done, many Malawians will continue to suffer.”

He commended Bunda College for incorporating the parliamentary committee and asked other players in the environmental sector to do the same.

“What Bunda has done is commendable because efforts like these help us to feed ourselves as a country.  I urge all organisations that are fighting climate change to include MPs because we have a large audience that listens to us,” said Luka.

In his remarks, Principal of Bunda College Professor Moses Kwapata said climate change is caused by humans and its impact includes drought and floods.

Kwapata said there is need to formulate and implement policies that are research-based and that can be easily understood even by the illiterate.

“These comprehensive policies are the ones that can help in the adaptation and mitigation measures as we develop programmes that can help the poor farmer in the village,” said Kwapata.

The study and conference was funded by the African Climate Change Policy Centre (ACPC) of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (Unecea).