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UN Environment and IPU agree to work on climate change

IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong, and UN Environment Executive Director Erik Solheim signing the MOU. © IPU / A. Blagojevic 

Parliaments are important partners in the fight against climate change, one of the major challenges the world is facing today. The IPU and the United Nations Environment Programme will be working together to ensure that parliaments have the tools they need to be able to tackle climate change and environmental degradation effectively.

On 12 April 2018, IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong, and UN Environment Executive Director Erik Solheim signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) setting out their joint cooperation on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially those related to environment and climate change, as well as the implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its associated treaties, including the Paris Agreement.

The two organizations will help strengthen the capacity of parliamentarians to formulate appropriate legislation, provide effective oversight of both the implementation of internationally agreed goals and the use of funds for climate change and the environment. The IPU and UN Environment will develop information material on legislative challenges in these areas.

The IPU encourages dialogue between parliaments, and between the legislative and executive branches of government. According to the MOU, the IPU and UN Environment will facilitate exchanges between parliaments and governments on the implementation of the SDGs and the principles of green economy. They will also encourage the sharing of best practices between parliaments and provide a space where parliamentarians can communicate with key stakeholders.