The Kenyan government on Wednesday called on African parliamentarians to be at the forefront in sensitizing the society on the importance of conserving the environment.
Kenyan Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka said gone are the days when leaders engaged in confrontational brand of politics, saying it was time to practice the new system of parliamentary democracy geared towards tackling problems such as poverty and hunger affecting the people.
"Let us not shy from making laws that impose heavy and deterrent penalties against those who engage in wanton destruction of our forests and pollution of our rivers even if such actions may not be popular with our voters," he said.
Musyoka said there is need for political leadership to lobby the business and manufacturing sectors to engage in environment friendly production processes that do not endanger the environment.
He said Kenya has not been spared by vagaries of climate, noting that in the recent past the country had witnessed unpredictable weather patterns that has affected agricultural output hence increased hunger and poverty levels.
Speaking during a luncheon for delegates attending a three-day Parliamentary Forum on Sustainable Development and Aid Effectiveness workshop underway in Nairobi, Musyoka assured the public of the government's commitment to international treaties on environmental conservation.
He noted that Kenya is a signatory to the Kyoto Protocol and will continue to advocate for initiatives aimed at combating climate.
"Environmental sustainability is a key component of vision 2030development strategy which the government is implementing as a road map towards making the country a newly industrializing middle income economy by the year 2030," he said.
The forum brings together over 150 parliamentarians from across Africa, Europe and Asia to share knowledge and experiences in areas of climate change and food security.
The forum will produce a North-South Parliamentary Action Plan on Climate Change, including a program of regional seminars and national parliamentary workshops primarily in Africa and Europe to emphasize the potential consequences of climate change in Africa.
The Nairobi forum will further engage parliamentarians in the aid effectiveness debate and the ongoing process of monitoring the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness.
Source:Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article