Bhubaneswar: Odisha Legislative Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy participated in the 69th Session of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) in Cape Town, South Africa, and highlighted the need to align development with climate stability.
The four-day conference, being held from September 14 to 17 at the International Convention Centre in Cape Town, has brought together more than 200 delegates, including Speakers from 17 states, Ministers, MPs, MLAs, parliamentary officials and representatives from 56 countries. The Indian delegation is being led by Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh.
Addressing the session, Padhy said development and stability must progress together and that climate concerns cannot be separated from the development process. She said climate change has direct links with agriculture, water, energy, healthcare, urban development, infrastructure, forests, coastal areas and disaster management.
She stressed the importance of state and local institutions in formulating solutions suited to local environmental and resource conditions. Measures such as clean energy adoption, greater energy efficiency, improved waste management and stronger economic systems can simultaneously contribute to climate stability, public health and quality of life, she said.
Highlighting Odisha’s experience in dealing with natural disasters, Padhy said the state has strengthened its disaster preparedness through early warning systems, cyclone shelters, evacuation mechanisms, institutional coordination and community participation.
She said climate change should not be viewed merely as an environmental or scientific issue, noting that the state government has introduced legislative measures and budgetary provisions to address the challenge. Monitoring, accountability and community participation, she added, are essential for effective climate action.
Padhy also underlined the role of legislatures in ensuring that development decisions enhance public safety and protect the lives, livelihoods and communities of present and future generations.
During the conference, she participated in a programme of Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians and joined a discussion on the participation of persons with disabilities in parliamentary systems.
Odisha Assembly Deputy Speaker Bhabani Shankar Bhoi, Assembly Secretary Satyabrata Rout and others are also attending the conference.
