Pan-African Parliament has advocated improved parliamentary leadership to advance climate agenda in Africa.

PAP stated this during fourteenth conference on Climate Change and Development in Africa in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from September 7 to 9, 2026.

The parliament’s delegation, led by its first vice president Ashebir Gayo, highlighted the PAP’s significant contribution to strengthening Africa’s climate governance, particularly through the development of the PAP Model Law on Climate Change.

Mr Gayo, who delivered a keynote address, highlighted the critical role of African parliaments in translating climate commitments into national legislation, budgets, programmes and effective implementation.

According to him, Africa should move beyond participation in global climate processes towards greater climate agency, including by developing and advancing African solutions reflecting the continent’s circumstances, priorities and development aspirations.

“The PAP Model Law on Climate Change. The initiative aims to provide African Union Member States with an adaptable legislative framework to strengthen national climate legislation and translate regional and international climate commitments into domestic action,” he stated.

Mr Gayo noted that the model addresses key areas including climate governance and planning, mitigation, adaptation and resilience, loss and damage, climate finance, climate-induced displacement, carbon markets, climate information and data governance, regional cooperation, compliance, access to justice and public participation.

Noting that climate action action must be integrated with Africa’s broader development priorities, the first vice president emphasised that climate resilience cannot be separated from food systems, land, water and natural-resource governance.

“In this regard, the PAP Model Law on Food and Nutrition Security in Africa, adopted in 2022, and the Model Law on Sustainable Soil Management in Africa as complementary legislative instruments supporting resilient food systems, sustainable agriculture, soil conservation, biodiversity, livelihoods and climate adaptation,” he added.

Mr Gayo stressed the need for accessible, affordable and predictable climate finance, effective institutions, parliamentary oversight and accountability.

He also called for stronger cooperation among African parliaments and international parliamentary networks to exchange legislative experiences and advance practical solutions in areas such as climate finance, resilient infrastructure, among others

The conference brought African policymakers, climate negotiators, parliamentarians, development partners, experts and other stakeholders to advance coordinated action on climate-resilient and low-emission development and strengthen Africa’s strategic engagement towards COP31.