African MPs champion climate action, free trade rollout
By Kiprono Keileb, August 15, 2025African legislators meeting in Banjul, the Gambia, have issued a rallying call for decisive legislative measures to address climate change and accelerate the rollout of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Speaking during the 54th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Africa Region Conference held in Gambia on Friday, August 15, 2025, leaders stressed that Africa must adopt a unified approach in both climate action and economic integration to secure the continent’s future.
The discussions were chaired by Kenya’s Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Gladys Shollei, during a high-level session on Climate Change, Energy, and Environmental Sustainability. Shollei and other delegates emphasised that while Africa produces less than 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, it is among the regions most affected by climate-related disasters.
“Our parliaments must go beyond rhetoric. We must ensure climate commitments are not just signed but implemented, with laws and budgets to back them,” delegates agreed
They pushed for the urgent enforcement of international climate agreements, including the Paris Agreement, with a particular focus on the Loss and Damage Fund agreed at COP27. Legislators insisted that the fund’s rollout must be fair, transparent, and responsive to Africa’s unique vulnerabilities.
Beyond environmental concerns, the forum also underscored the link between climate resilience and economic strength. Delegates urged African countries to use AfCFTA as a platform for industrialisation, advocating for value addition, local manufacturing, and reduced dependency on raw material exports.
“Africa’s economic story will change when we stop exporting raw coffee beans and start exporting processed coffee,” one participant noted, drawing applause from the floor.
Lawmakers highlighted that parliaments hold the power to align national laws with AfCFTA’s vision, from harmonising trade regulations to improving infrastructure and supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This, they argued, would not only boost intra-African trade but also create jobs, spur innovation, and position Africa as a competitive player in global markets.
The Kenyan delegation actively engaged in both the climate and trade sessions. Alongside Shollei were Paul Mwirigi, Beatrice Adagala, Julius Mawathe, Aramat Lemanken, Senator Alexander Mundigi, and Senator Beatrice Akinyi.
Delegates concluded that climate change and economic growth are not competing priorities but interconnected goals. Sustainable trade policies can strengthen resilience, while climate-smart legislation can protect economic gains.
With Africa’s population projected to double by 2050, MPs at the forum warned that the time for half-measures is over. They called for laws that can outlast political cycles, partnerships that can break trade barriers, and a continental solidarity that ensures Africa speaks with one voice in global negotiations.
“This is Africa’s century, but only if we legislate for it.” The legislatures declared