Participants of the Parliamentary Observatory on Climate Change and Just Transition (OPCC) have a historic participation at COP28 and launch a global call for a pact for a new model of green, sustainable, inclusive and just development. 

The participation of the Parliamentary Observatory on Climate Change and Just Transition (OPCC) in the 28th edition of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), held between November 30 and December 12, 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, was marked by the strong positioning of parliamentary leaders from several countries in Latin America and the Caribbean in defense of a new model of green, sustainable, inclusive and just development, as well as through dialogue with governmental authorities and representatives of the private sector and the civil society on tackling the climate crisis and promoting just transition. The OPCC is coordinated by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) of the United Nations and has the support of the Open Society Foundations. 

Participating parliamentarians and supporters of the OPCC presented a joint statement at COP28, which launches a global call for a pact for a new model of green, sustainable, inclusive and just development and establishes the commitment to develop ambitious and comprehensive plans for ecological and just transition, in order to contribute to protecting the environment and tackling the climate emergency, while promoting socioeconomic development and people's well-being. The statement was signed by 26 Latin American and Caribbean parliamentarians from the OPCC and also had the support of 9 other parliamentarians from Brazil, Chile, Germany, Guatemala and Mexico. (Access the full document below) 

After COP28, parliamentarians held high-level dialogues and expositions on the topics covered in the joint statement at the three OPCC events held at the Conference and outlined paths for a deep transformation towards a more productive, inclusive and sustainable future.

OPCC events began on December 1st at COP28. At the Brazilian Pavilion, the OPCC held the event "The leading role of Latin American and Caribbean parliamentarians in building a new green and inclusive development model” which stimulated the debate on the paths and proposals of the legislative branch to address development challenges. The event was moderated by Senator Jaques Wagner of Brazil and featured presentations by José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, ECLAC's Executive Secretary, Deputy Célia Xabriaká of Brazil, Prime Minister Natalio Wheatley of the British Virgin Islands, Representative of the Chamber of Deputies Juan Carlos Losada from Colombia and Deputy Nilto Tatto from Brazil. The event's recording is available online, it can be seen from 4’40’’ onwards through the link: https://www.youtube.com/live/lVuy0E2oYO4?si=Mji6vZDTYD2R-EM2

On December 5th, the OPCC, in partnership with the Global Organization of Legislators for a Balanced Environment (GLOBE) at the COP28 Parliamentarians Pavilion, welcomed Senator Cecília Requena from Bolivia, Deputy Célia Xabriaká, Deputy Duda Salabert, Deputy Nilto Tatto and Senator Leila Barros from Brazil, as well as Representative of the Chamber of Deputies Juan Carlos Losada from Colombia and Deputy Martina Casás from Uruguay, who shared their perspectives on the panel “Promoting sustainable and inclusive development: Just transition perspectives in Latin America and the Caribbean”. The parliamentary panelists held a comprehensive discussion on the opportunities and challenges associated with implementing a just transition in LAC, including the prevailing socioeconomic inequality in the region, and addressed how the transition will effectively contribute to poverty reduction and social inclusion. You can watch the event in full through the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59U6lB5EmzI

Towards the end of COP, the OPCC promoted an important discussion titled "From Mining to the Electric Mobility Industry in Latin America: The Role of Parliaments in Seizing Opportunities and Addressing Challenges” at the Pavilion of Chile on December 8th. The panel addressed the role of mining, specifically lithium, in the context of electromobility and sustainable development in Latin American and Caribbean countries. The invited authorities from Bolivia, Brazil, Curaçao, Chile and Mexico presented their points of view and perspectives from the context of their countries and proposed reflections on legislation and legal frameworks relevant to electromobility in the LAC region. Senator Cecília Requena from Bolivia, Deputy Duda Salabert from Brazil, Senator Ricardo Lagos Weber from Chile, besides Sir Albert Martis from Curaçao and Deputy Eduardo Enrique Murat Hinojosa of Mexico were present on the occasion.

The OPCC, which was born at a COP space, at the 26th edition of the Conference in 2021 in Glasgow, fulfilled its purpose at COP28 of strengthening interparliamentary cooperation and providing laws and bills data from Latin America and the Caribbean parliaments so that society, authorities and parliamentary leaders, can identify good legislative practices and optimize parliamentary actions for a fair transition to low-carbon and sustainable economies in the LAC region and throughout the world.

Sign the Joint Declaration:

• Senator Gladys González

  President of the Environment and Sustainable Development Commission, Senate of the Nation of Argentine

• Senator Jacques Wagner

  Government Leader in the Federal Senate of Brazil

• Senator Cecilia Isabel Requena Zárate

  President of the Commission on Lands and Territories, Natural Resources and Environment of the Senate of the Plurinational State of Bolivia

• Representative Juan Carlos Lozada

  Representative in the Chamber of Congress of the Republic of Colombia

• Representative Ximena García

  Secretary of the Commission on Natural Resources and Conservation of the Human Environment, Chamber of Deputies of the Nations of Argentine

• Deputy Maximiliano Ferraro

  Member of the Commission on Natural Resources and Conservation of the Human Environment, Chamber of Deputies of the Argentine Nation

• Deputy Célia Xakriabá

  President of the Amazon and Indigenous Peoples Commission of the Chamber of Deputies of Brazil

• Senator Ximena Órdenes Neira

  Member of the Commission on Future Challenges, Science, Technology and Innovation of the Senate of Chile

• Deputy Nilto Tatto

  Member of the Environment Commission of the Chamber of Deputies of Brazil

• Mr. Gwendell Mercelina

  Member of the Parliament of Curaçao

• Deputy Samuel Andrés Pérez Álvarez

  Deputy of the Congress of the Republic of Guatemala

• Senator Leila Barros

  President of the Environmental Commission of the Brazilian Senate

• Representative Consuelo Veloso Ávila

  Member of the Agricultural, Forestry and Rural Development Commission of the Chamber of Deputies of Chile

• Honorable Prime Minister Natalio D. Wheatley

  Prime Minister of the British Virgin Islands

• Deputy Federico Ruiz

  Member of the Special Environmental Committee of the House of Representatives of Uruguay

• Deputy Gabriel Silva

  Member of the Population, Environment and Development Commission of the National Assembly of Panama

• Senator Juan Ignacio de la Torre

  President of the Commission on the Environment, Climate Change and National Heritage of the Senate of Chile

• Senator Nancy de la Sierra

  President of the Commission on International Organizations of the Senate of the Republic of Mexico

• Deputy Kattia Cambronero Aguiluz

  Member of the Environmental Commission of the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica

• Mr. Eliezer Benito Wheatley

  Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of the British Virgin Islands

• Senator Emílio Álvarez Icaza

  Secretary of the Human Rights and Metropolitan Areas and Mobility Commissions of the Senate of the Republic of Mexico

• Deputy Duda Salabert

  Vice President of the Labor Commission of the Chamber of Deputies of Brazil

• Senator Raúl Bolaños Cachos Cue

  President of the Environmental Commission of the Senate of the Republic of Mexico

• Deputy Martina Casas

  Member of the Special Commission on the Environment of the House of Representatives of Uruguay

• Deputy Eduardo Enrique Murat Hinojosa

  Secretary of the Foreign Relations Commission of the Chamber of Deputies of Mexico

• Senator Ricardo Lagos Weber

  President of the Economy Commission of the Senate of Chile

Support the Joint Declaration:

• Carol Dartora

  Federal Deputy, Chamber of Deputies of Brazil

• Chico Alencar

  Federal Deputy, Chamber of Deputies of Brazil

• Rosângela Rezende

  State Deputy, Legislative Assembly of the State of Goiás in Brazil

• Kathrin Henneberger

  Deputy, German Parliament (Bundestag)

• Patricia Orantes

  Deputy, Congress of the Republic of Guatemala

• Beatriz Paredes

  Senator of the Republic, Senate of the Republic of Mexico

• Laura Iraís Ballesteros Mancilla

  Senator of the Republic, Senate of the Republic of Mexico

• Alejandra Lagunas

  Senator of the Republic, Chamber of Senators of the Republic of Mexico

• Susana Harp Iturribarría

  Senator of the Republic for Oaxaca, Chamber of Senators of the Republic of Mexico