By Melvin Tejan Mansaray
A ranking member of the Sierra Leone Parliamentary Delegation to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, Hon. Mabinty F. A. Funna representing the people Constituency 054 Tonkolili District, All Peoples Congress (APC) party has reflected on her engagements at the just-concluded “Parliamentary Seminar on Climate Change as a Driver of Environmental Degradation, Population Displacement and Rising Insecurity in the ECOWAS Region — 21st–23rd September, 2026 and, 2026 Second Extraordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament — 24th –27th September, 2026.”
According to Hon. Funna, she was delighted to have adequately represented Sierra Leone as part of its delegation describing it as a platform where they, “shared a meaningful experience.”
The Seminar which focused on the theme, “Climate Action, Resilience and Regional Unity,” was held in Accra, Ghana 21st–27th September 2026 , featuring parliamentarians, government representatives, UN bodies, civil society activists, and development partners to address the region’s most urgent shared challenges.
On the subject of climate and security, Hon. Funna noted that, “Africa contributes less than 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions — yet we are the most exposed and least equipped to adapt. West Africa faces worsening droughts, floods, coastal erosion, food insecurity, and resource-driven conflict, with cities like Accra, Lagos, and Dakar already feeling the sharp impact.”
The deliberations focused on the critical links between climate change and environmental harm, displacement of communities, rising insecurity and poverty and further dissected the need for advancing the Regional Climate Strategy (2022–2030) and Nationally Determined Contributions, Launching a regional carbon market to unlock an estimated USD 294 billion in climate financing, strengthening laws, Parliamentary oversight, and cross-border cooperation and turning vast natural assets — forests, farmlands, mangroves — into sustainable, high-integrity climate solutions.
Hon. Funna emphasized that, “our goal: build resilience, prevent conflict, and protect the most vulnerable through coordinated action.”
In her reflection on the Extra Ordinary Session, she described it as “governance in action.”
She highlighted some of the key takeaways in the; Adoption of the Seminar’s Outcome Report and Resolution — turning dialogue into actionable recommendations, Review of Committee reports on renewable energy, migration, MSME growth, and regional value chains, approval of the 2027 Work Plan and budget framework and strengthened parliamentary oversight to ensure that regional commitments are delivered.
In conclusion, Hon. Funna emphasized key outcomes, citing that, “Climate action is not just environmental — it is a security, economic, and humanitarian imperative. National parliaments have a central role in turning global agreements into local laws and investments. We must protect our people and our natural wealth — one supports the other. Regional unity makes us stronger; shared solutions bring lasting peace and prosperity.”
She reckoned that: “These events were not just meetings — they were a promise to our communities. I am committed to bringing these insights home, advocating for stronger climate resilience, fairer resource management, and policies that leave no one behind. Together, we build a safer, greener, more prosperous West Africa.”