Deputy President Paul Mashatile calls for urgent climate action in SADC region

In a stirring address delivered virtually during the 58th Plenary Assembly of the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF), Deputy President Paul Mashatile lauded the SADC’s commitment to combating climate change through impactful policy development and a regional climate-resilient water investment programme. 

The assembly, centred on “The Impact of Climate Change on Women and Youth in the SADC Region and the Role of Parliaments in Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation”, underscores the urgent need for action in a region significantly threatened by climate variability.

Mashatile highlighted that strengthening regional resilience requires a focus on developing a climate change strategy and action plan. This involves incorporating climate considerations into current policies, boosting climate information services, and prioritising effective water resource management.

“Climate change disproportionately affects women and young people, increasing their work burdens, escalating health risks, and heightening the changes of gender-based violence and exploitation,” Mashatile said, describing it as a significant threat multiplier that exacerbates existing socio-economic vulnerabilities.

“In parallel, climate change impacts such as persistent drought, extreme weather events, including floods and cyclones, land degradation and shifting rainfall patterns, profoundly undermine sustainable development in SADC, particularly affecting women and youth,” Mashatile said. 

He said women are disproportionately affected by climate change due to their vital roles in household welfare and reliance on natural resources. As primary providers of food, water, and fuel, climate-induced scarcity forces women to travel farther, increasing their workload, risks, and adverse health outcomes. Their dependence on rain-fed agriculture means fluctuating yields lead to lost livelihoods, worsening food insecurity and poverty, especially in female-headed households. Furthermore, women’s limited economic, political, and legal power, including a lack of land rights, hinders their resilience and adaptation capacity. In crises, they have limited access to relief and decision-making.

Mashatile added that young people, especially youth and adolescent girls, are often more vulnerable and experience education disruption.

“Climate-related hazards such as floods and droughts can cause damage to schools’ infrastructure or compel households to withdraw children, particularly girls, from school to support subsistence and income-generating activities,” Mashatile explained. 

“This situation exacerbates the vulnerability of girls, leading to a significant rise in school dropouts among adolescent girls. This phenomenon often contributes to unequal gender roles, increasing their risk of child early and forced marriages as a coping mechanism for impoverished families. Furthermore, it exposes them to physical and sexual abuse. 

“Therefore, the combination of limited opportunities and climate shocks can restrict livelihood prospects for young people, particularly in rural areas. Consequently, they may resolve to increase internal or regional migration to even slums in pursuit of survival.” 

Mashatile said that SADC parliaments have a vital mandate in climate change response and adaptation, using their legislative, oversight, and representational functions to promote effective and equitable climate action.

“Immediately, we must enact and strengthen our policies to align with regional agreements such as the SADC protocol and development, SADC climate change strategy and international climate agreements such as the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,” he said.

He also talked about the need to advance gender‑sensitive policies by introducing legislation that guarantees a fair and equitable approach, while mandating the mainstreaming of gender considerations across all climate policies.

He said: “We must facilitate the transition to clean energy by enacting laws and creating enabling policy environments that incentivise renewable energy investments, improve access to clean energy and leverage critical minerals for sustainable supply chains.

“As we implement these transformative reforms, we must strengthen oversight and accountability. This work will entail parliament’s holding governments accountable for their performance in implementing domestic climate laws, regional commitments, and international obligations.” 

Mashatile said that effective climate change action necessitates significant resource allocation for mitigation and adaptation, specifically targeting vulnerable groups.

“The success of this initiative hinges on investments in robust monitoring and evaluation capacities, particularly in monitoring the impact of climate-related programmes,” he said. 

“It is crucial to ensure these programmes are inclusive, effective, and aligned with their intended objectives, particularly in reducing vulnerabilities and promoting gender equity.” 

Mashatile stressed that closing the gap between government and constituents is vital for parliaments to effectively act as intermediaries. This role ensures community, women, and youth voices are included in national policy and decision-making, particularly concerning climate change. Therefore, investing in public dialogues, awareness initiatives, and providing platforms for public hearings and discussions on climate change is essential.

thobeka.ngema@inl.co.za