(Credits: CVF)

Climate Vulnerable Forum launch Global Parliamentary Group

• Climate vulnerable nations launch historic parliamentarians’ group to further climate action just days ahead of Glasgow COP
• The dedicated initiative will enable South-South cooperation to build on the work of the CVF and V20
• Former UNSG believes that “parliamentarians of climate-threatened nations have a crucial role to play in the fight against climate change”

26 October 2021, DHAKA: The world’s most climate vulnerable nations have launched a global forum made up of parliamentarians in an effort to lead by example and drive the action needed to protect their peoples’ livelihoods from the impacts of runaway climate change. 

The inaugural Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) Global Parliamentary Group convened virtually on Tuesday, in a historic moment just a few days before the UN Climate Change Conference kickstarts in Glasgow, to signal their commitment to finding solutions to the climate emergency. 

The CVF Parliamentary Group will be a dedicated CVF parliamentarians’ program that is expected to enable members of parliaments from across the 48 CVF member states to support one another to fight the climate crisis.

“As parliamentarians, your action is vital: you are the ones that can drive the shift from international negotiations, to real, on-the-ground, nation-wide implementation” H.E. Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Chair of the GCA & former Secretary General of the United Nations. 

The initiative aims to build on the important work that is already undertaken by the CVF to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees, and put pressure on developed nations to collectively work towards a better, more just and resilient planet for the most vulnerable. 

Since 2009, the CVF has been leading efforts to promote ambitious global climate action through the executive branch of government, recognising the crucial role of parliaments in climate action. 

“Importance of this Forum knows no bounds as it helps the most vulnerable garner their issues” Hon’ble Hassan Latheef, Chair of the Maldivian Parliament’s General Purpose Committee.

The CVF Parliamentary Group will have two central objectives. First, it will enable parliamentarians from across the CVF member states to share valuable experiences and good practices on legislative measures in support of ambitious and urgent climate action to safeguard communities and progress towards the CVF’s goals. And second, it will work collectively to secure greater commitments to action and a shared dynamic of urgency and motivation to overcome barriers to climate.

“We need political commitment for which Parliaments need to more robustly convene to mobilise climate action and we are deeply convinced of the critical role that parliamentarians play through legislation, budgetary oversight, and other representational functions” H.E. Mr. Martin Chungong, Secretary-General of the IPU

Some of the priority issues that the group will explore will include how linkages between the COVID-19 pandemic response and recovery can support greater climate action under a “build back better” approach. It will also like to consider how parliaments can promote greater Paris Agreement commitments to action. 

“It is absolutely vital for vulnerable country parliaments to challenge and complement the executive branch’s ability and intention to dramatically raise climate ambition” H.E. Ms. Loren Legarda, Deputy Speaker of the Philippines & CVF Parliaments Thematic Ambassador. 

“It is our job as legislators in our country to hold our own ministers to account for promises around climate aid and commitment”, Mr. Darren Jones, MP, Chair of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee, House of Commons, United Kingdom.

The CVF Parliamentary Group launch was held in collaboration with the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and Global Center on Adaptation (GCA).

ENDS

About the CVF

The CVF is an international forum for countries most threatened by climate change. Founded in 2009, it is composed of 48 members across five regions including Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America and the Pacific, and represents some 1.2 billion people worldwide. The Forum is led by a rotating chair for an ordinary period of two years, with Bangladesh currently chairing for the second time for the period 2020-2022. For more, visit: https://www.thecvf.org/about/ 

CVF members

Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Fiji, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Kenya, Kiribati, Lebanon, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Niger, Palau, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Senegal, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Viet Nam and Yemen.