The Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) concluded its 58th Plenary Assembly in Durban with a strong commitment to accelerated parliamentary action on climate change, focusing on the protection of women and youth who are disproportionately affected by climate impacts across the region.
The Assembly, held from 30 November to 5 December 2025, convened under the theme: “The Impact of Climate Change on Women and Youth in the SADC Region and the Role of Parliaments in Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation.”
Delegates included Speakers and Members of Parliament from 14 SADC member states, as well as civil society representatives, youth advocates and regional partners.
In her opening remarks, SADC PF Secretary-General Boemo Sekgoma underscored the increasing frequency and severity of climate-related events such as cyclones, floods, and droughts, which lead to water scarcity, food insecurity, and social disruption.
She emphasised that these crises require urgent legislative and oversight action from regional parliaments.
Acting President of South Africa, Paul Mashatile, highlighted the gendered nature of climate impacts, noting that women, as primary providers of food, water and fuel, are disproportionately affected.
He warned that climate-induced disruptions exacerbate maternal mortality, gender-based violence, exploitation, and child marriages. Furthermore, young people, who comprise over 60 per cent of the population, face diminishing economic, educational and social opportunities.
The Assembly included significant contributions from the Regional Women’s Parliamentary Caucus and the Southern Africa Youth Parliament (SAYP). The youth delegation, led by Princess Mojapelo, urged legislators to recognise young people as active leaders rather than future beneficiaries, advocating for the establishment of mechanisms for youth-led climate action.
They also celebrated the formation of the SADC PF Youth Caucus and called for its full operationalisation to enhance legislative engagement and regional coordination.
Host Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa, Angela Thokozile Didiza, reiterated that parliaments play a central role in developing and enforcing climate policies.
She urged delegates to move beyond mere rhetoric and deliver effective, accountable, and inclusive legislation to mitigate climate risks and encourage adaptation.
Key resolutions adopted during the Plenary include; mainstreaming climate change into national and regional legislative agendas, with a particular focus on gender and youth vulnerabilities, strengthening policy and oversight mechanisms to ensure effective mitigation and adaptation strategies, institutionalising youth participation through the SADC PF Youth Caucus and Southern Africa Youth Parliament as well as advancing the transformation of the SADC Parliamentary Forum into a fully-fledged SADC Regional Parliament, with enhanced powers to harmonise climate and development policies across member states.
