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Young MPs for climate action: Eighth IPU Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians

Sahar Albazar

MP Sahar Albazar ⓒ Parliament of Egypt

On 15 and 16 June, some 200 young parliamentarians from 60 countries convened in Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt for the Eight IPU Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians.

The conference was jointly organized by the IPU and the Parliament of Egypt. This year’s theme was Young MPs for Climate Action in the lead-up to COP27 also taking place in Sharm-el-Sheikh later this year.

The annual IPU conference is a unique global platform for young Members of Parliament to meet and identify common and innovative strategies to advance youth empowerment.

The conference focused on what parliamentary action and good practices from around the world can mitigate the impact of climate change and ensure that global warming does not exceed 1.5°C, in line with the Paris Agreement. Other topics included the impact of climate change on human rights; climate change and civil society; and climate change support for developing countries.

President of the Forum of Young MPs, Sahar Albazar, said "Climate change is an unprecedented global challenge that does not recognize borders, and whether we are responsible for emissions or not, it will affect all of us, and climate change is changing our world, it is a threat to peace and stability, it threatens low-lying countries and will lead to the displacement of people."

IPU President, Duarte Pacheco, said "Time in politics moves fast. Take it from someone who has been in parliament for almost thirty years. I know that there will be competing priorities in our countries. But whether it is health, peace and security, migration, they will only be magnified if we do not act on climate change."

The conference was also be the opportunity to promote the IPU’s campaign to rejuvenate parliaments and bring in fresh faces I Say Yes to Youth in Parliament! The campaign was spearheaded by the IPU Forum of Young Parliamentarians and is anchored around six pledges designed to mobilize parliamentary leadership of all ages to encourage more young people to run for parliament.