Study Group on Parliamentarians and the Environment

Summary of recommendations and Final Report.  

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the Commonwealth Secretariat, in collaboration with the Parliament of Belize, hosted the Study Group from 25 February to 1 March 2007 in Belize City.

Parliamentarians from Australia, Belize, Canada, India, Jamaica, Samoa and the United Kingdom examined the current status of environmental pratices and discuss all aspects of climate change. In their main findings, the Group identified best practice in environmental management and determined areas which need to be addressed throughout the Commonwealth.

Through presentations and an exchange of national and local case studies, Parliamentarians reviewed trends in sustainable development in the Commonwealth; concerns with respect to climate change; the role of Parliamentarians as champions for sustainable development through public sector procurement; environmental impact assessment; and the interaction of Parliamentarians with constituents, local communities, local government, and other stakeholders in effecting a shift towards more sustainable approaches to development.

When the Commonwealth Consultative Group on the Environment met in 2006, they commended the role that Parliamentarians can have in addressing environmental issues. As the Group points out, Parliamentarians can and ought to have a critical role in protecting the environment. They are required to ratify international treaties and protocols on environmental protection, and also scrutinise and contribute to the development agendas, resource allocations, and environmental legislation of their countries.

The programme was organised by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. It was jointly sponsored by the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.