The Vice President of Mozambique’s Assembly of the Republic (AR), Hélder Injojo, stated on Tuesday, 29 July, that Southern African Parliaments must play a central and active role in promoting a “just, inclusive, and sustainable” energy transition, given the region’s reliance on fossil fuels.
Speaking at the opening of the “Regional Interparliamentary Conference on Climate Change, Energy Transition, and the Oil & Gas Sector in the SADC Region”, held from 29 to 31 July in Maputo, Injojo warned that the region faces a “dual challenge”: ensuring energy security while responding to the urgency of global climate action.
“Our expectation is clear: that this event brings forward relevant recommendations to strengthen parliamentary diplomacy in the areas of energy and climate, particularly concerning fossil fuel governance,” said the Vice President of the Assembly. He added that the event should also pave the way for “visionary leadership” in preparing the region’s participation at COP30, scheduled for 2025 in Brazil.
While acknowledging the polluting nature of hydrocarbons, Injojo emphasized their continued importance in job creation, economic growth, and fiscal revenue across many SADC countries, thus requiring a balanced approach.
“We need to develop informed, assertive, and transparent public agendas that give climate urgency the proper weight within our countries’ development imperatives,” he affirmed.
The conference is jointly organized by the Institute for Multiparty Democracy (IMD), Southern Africa Resource Watch (SARW), SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF), and the Mozambican Assembly of the Republic. It brings together lawmakers from Mozambique, South Africa, Angola, Namibia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as well as representatives from institutions such as the African Development Bank, African Energy Commission (AFREC), and the Pan-African Parliament.
In his address, Injojo further stressed that the energy transition must not undermine economic development, calling for the creation of a stable and modern legal framework that fosters sustainable investment in the sector.
“We are committed to adopting legislative and policy measures that drive clean energy, ensure energy efficiency, and promote a just transition anchored in sustainable development,” he said.
The conference comes at a time when regional countries are seeking alignment with the global carbon neutrality targets by 2050, as defined at COP28, held in Dubai at the end of 2023. Over three days, participants will discuss the economic, social, and environmental implications of fossil fuel dependency and the role of parliaments in shaping sustainable energy policies.
Text: Nário Sixpene
