Martin Chungong, IPU Secretary General, has just concluded a mission to Gabon at the invitation of the President of the Transitional National Assembly, Jean-François Ndongou, to meet the authorities in charge of the country’s transition. The visit is part of the IPU’s wider efforts to monitor developments in trouble spots, to defend democratic institutions and to support efforts for a return to constitutional order, as mandated by the IPU’s governing bodies. On behalf of the global parliamentary community, Mr. Chungong reiterated IPU support for reforms to the country’s institutions being carried out by the Committee for the Transition and Restoration

How is climate change affecting your country? Currently, one of the most significant impacts of climate change in the Persian Gulf Region is the increase in sand and dust storms. The region is particularly prone to these storms due to its arid and desert-like environment. Droughts, exacerbated by climate change, produce dry and loose soil that can easily be lifted by strong winds, causing soil erosion, affecting water quality and degrading agricultural land. As the phenomemon affects the whole region and not just Iran, we need to cooperate with neigbouring countries, both in terms of reducing and adapting to the

Tulia Ackson, Speaker of the Parliament of Tanzania, became the 31st IPU President following elections in November 2023. In her first IPU interview, she describes her journey to the Presidency and outlines her main priorities for the next three years.

Huge strides in artificial intelligence (AI) have dominated the headlines these past few months. But beyond the buzz, what are the risks but also the opportunities when it comes to democracy, human rights and the rule of law? Will AI be the great disrupter of elections in 2024 with more than half the world’s population going to the polls? Or will democratic processes and institutions, such as parliaments, be able to adapt and harness AI to become stronger and more effective? To answer these questions and more, the IPU is organizing three capacity-building workshops in January-March, open to parliamentarians and

The Parliament of Cambodia is taking steps to reduce its environmental impact and promote eco-friendly practices in a good example of how to decarbonize a parliament. The adoption of solar power on the Senate’s premises efficiently cuts down on carbon emissions and energy consumption. In a bid to minimize emissions and pollution, conventional fossil-fuel vehicles have been phased out in favour of electric sweeper vehicles. These eco-friendly vehicles are used to maintain cleanliness and collect waste within the Senate compound. The Parliament has also taken active measures to reduce unnecessary staff travel and encourage eco-friendly modes of transportation like bicycles

End of year message from the IPU leadership On the eve of its 135th year, the IPU has never been so close to universal membership, with the accession in 2023 of the parliaments of Liberia and the Bahamas, our 179th and 180th Members respectively, as well as many observers and partners signing up to join or rejoin our global parliamentary community. This, together with the multiple events and initiatives that we organized in 2023, in which thousands of parliamentarians and stakeholders from all over the world participated, demonstrates that the IPU is becoming more inclusive, in line with our strategy