South Asian Parliamentarians’ Meeting with Indian Environment Minister at CoP27

A delegation of Parliamentarians from India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka met with Mr Bhupendra Yadav, Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, at the Indian pavilion in CoP27 (27th Session of Conference of Parties of the UNFCCC), Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, on 8th November 2022. Mr Yadav is leading the Indian delegation to COP27. Climate Parliament organised the delegation.

During an hour-long interaction, the parliamentarians highlighted the importance of a regional approach and the increased role of parliamentarians in addressing the energy transition and climate challenges. The parliamentarians from South Asian countries, while focussing on the rising climate and energy challenges in their respective countries, emphasised that achieving multidimensional regional energy cooperation and ensuring a conducive environment for rapid energy transition can help the entire region in achieving their climate goals. This will require long-term and continuous coordination among the South Asian governments. They requested the Indian Minister to revive and re-energise a regional dialogue for long-term energy cooperation in south Asian countries. The Minister apprised the delegation of the various efforts taken by the Indian Government on climate change and energy transition and supported the idea of a regional approach.

At COP27, Parliamentarians from India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan resolved to work jointly to strengthen regional energy cooperation and transition further to mitigate climate change and promote energy security. In a meeting organised on 8th November, a number of senior parliamentarians have decided to lay the ground for the formation of a Regional Parliamentary Forum in the near future, in line with their respective national governments. Climate Parliament organised the Roundtable with support from USAID. The Parliamentarians also apprised the Minister about the aims and objectives of the ‘South Asian Parliamentarians’ Roundtable on Regional Energy Cooperation’.