Mainstreaming Climate Change Adaptation into National Development Process: The Role of the Legislature.

Abstract

Climate change mainstreaming undoubtedly remains the most cost effective and surest way of adapting and building resilience to climate change. Knowledge of Parliamentarians as a stakeholder and one of the highest initiators of laws and policies on climate change cannot be ignored in the climate change discourse. Inadequate knowledge and information among parliamentarians on climate change mainstreaming has a negative influence on political will and support for climate change activities, which is one among several barriers to climate change mainstreaming. This research sought to understand the knowledge and roles of the legislature in integrating climate change into development processes. The study adopted a mixed method methodology that is, the use of qualitative and quantitative through concurrent triangulation approaches. Quantitative data was collected from 34 parliamentarians. A simple random and systematic probability sampling methods were used to select the participants. Semi structured questionnaires that included respondent‘s knowledge levels on climate change and their roles were administered to the parliamentarians. A qualitative data was collected through an in-depth interview using an interview guide. A total of 34 parliamentarians participated in this study. Findings of this study show that about 92% of the participants affirm the changes in the weather pattern but 7.4% of the 92% could not identify any causes of climate change. About 80% participants demonstrated some knowledge on climate change but could not relate it to their roles and how they could represent them in their various core mandates as MPs. Again, about 70% disclosed that not much is been done by the legislature around climate change and is mostly centered on two committees which leave others unconcerned about it. In conclusion to promote climate friendly policies, legislative approaches are required. Thus, the work of the legislature is a critical step for tackling CC as it binds actors and non-actors to demonstrate commitment and ambition to reduce the anthropogenic cause of climate change and to create an enabling environment for adaptation .Again parliamentarians have official (constitutional) mandate to formulate laws and this makes them pivotal for mainstreaming CC legislation for sustainable development. On the contrary, inadequate knowledge and information among parliamentarians on climate change mainstreaming has a negative influence on political will and support for climate change activities. Capacity building and collective engagement is necessary for achieving a climate resilient economy.