The British High Commission and Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) have officially launched the Environmental Democracy Project, a significant initiative aimed at addressing climate change issues in The Gambia. This project seeks to identify and tackle gaps and challenges at both policy and institutional levels through participatory approaches involving a diverse range of stakeholders, including parliamentarians, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and the media.

The launch event, held at the residence of the British High Commissioner to The Gambia, marks the beginning of a one-year project focused on tackling climate change issues in The Gambia. The project is primarily led by National Assembly members with support from WFD. Tabu Njie Sarr, Country Director of WFD, emphasised the project’s goal to build the capacities of National Assembly members to address national gaps in the fight against climate change. She highlighted the need for a comprehensive climate change act, noting that while a policy exists, the act is still under review. “This project is conceived to ensure that parliamentarians are informed and equipped to develop better policies, especially in relation to climate change,” Sarr stated.

Hon. Yaya Gassama, Chairman of the National Assembly Select Committee on Environment, Sustainable Development, and NGO Affairs, underscored the importance of climate change legislation. He pointed out that existing laws need amendments to align with the country’s aspirations in combating and mitigating climate change impacts. “There are still more legislations that we have to make, and there are existing legislations that need to be looked at again for some amendment,” Gassama remarked.

Harriet King, the British High Commissioner to The Gambia and host of the ceremony, expressed her enthusiasm for the project: “For me, it’s a fantastic opportunity to bring together the crucial issues of environment and climate change with democracy. These are key parts of what this country needs and bringing them together into a properly funded program that WFD will take forward is just fantastic.”

The launch ceremony also served as a networking platform, allowing National Assembly members, CSOs, and the media to discuss their roles in the project’s implementation. This collaborative effort aims to foster a more informed and proactive approach to climate change legislation and policy in The Gambia.

Following the launch event, WFD and the National Assembly’s Environment Committee held a sectoral discussion workshop on climate change legislation with policy makers, to identify legislative gaps and explore their implications through expert-led discussions.

The workshop highlighted the urgency of climate action, emphasising the need for the National Assembly to address The Gambia’s environmental challenges through effective legislation. The discussion underscored the importance of a collaborative approach, involving not only the National Assembly but also communities and other stakeholders, to ensure successful climate change legislation. Furthermore, increasing public understanding of climate change was identified as essential for effective policy formulation and community engagement in mitigation efforts.  

Despite having several climate and environmental management tools and policies, The Gambia faces significant gaps in their implementation and enforcement, as well as the lack of a dedicated Climate Act. The workshop also stressed the importance of institutions allocating budgets for climate-related issues and accurately reporting on climate actions. Additionally, integrating climate change education into the school curriculum and providing training for educators were highlighted as crucial steps towards developing a climate-literate society.

WFD is committed to supporting the National Assembly of The Gambia in a process of identifying ongoing challenges regarding climate change, deepening their knowledge and understanding, as well as identifying gaps within existing legislation and policies. This will be done through further sectoral discussion workshops, culminating in a gaps assessment report, which will be presented to the National Assembly's Environmental Committee, proposing a legislative way forward.