Bhubaneswar, Odisha | September 17, 2026:
Odisha Legislative Assembly Speaker Smt. Surama Padhy is representing the State during her visit to South Africa, where she participated in the 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Conference in Cape Town.

The four-day conference, which began on September 14 and concluded on September 17, brought together more than 200 delegates from across the Commonwealth, including parliamentary speakers, ministers, legislators and senior parliamentary officials. Representatives from 56 countries participated in the conference.

Speaking at the gathering, Smt. Padhy underlined India’s approach of pursuing economic and social development while maintaining environmental sustainability. She stressed that development and climate action should be addressed as interconnected priorities rather than as separate concerns.

According to the Speaker, climate-related issues affect several critical sectors, including agriculture, water resources, energy, healthcare, urban planning, infrastructure, forests, coastal regions and disaster management. She highlighted the importance of state and local institutions in developing solutions that reflect local environmental conditions and available resources.

Smt. Padhy also drew attention to the connection between pollution, climate change and sustainable development. She said coordinated action in these areas can encourage cleaner energy, greater energy efficiency, improved waste management and more sustainable economic practices.

Referring to Odisha’s experience in managing natural disasters, the Speaker highlighted measures such as early-warning systems, cyclone shelters, evacuation planning, coordination among institutions and public participation. These mechanisms, she said, have strengthened the State’s capacity to respond to severe weather events and protect communities.

She further emphasized that climate change extends beyond environmental and scientific concerns and requires institutional support through legislation, financial provisions and effective monitoring. Public participation, she noted, remains an important component of efforts to strengthen climate resilience.

Smt. Padhy said legislatures have a significant responsibility in ensuring that present-day development decisions also protect future generations. Parliamentary institutions, she observed, can contribute to policies that safeguard people’s lives, livelihoods and communities while promoting long-term sustainability.

During her participation in the conference, the Odisha Assembly Speaker also joined the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians programme and took part in discussions concerning the inclusion and participation of persons with disabilities within parliamentary systems.

The Indian delegation at the conference is being led by Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Shri Harivansh Narayan Singh, with Speakers from 17 Indian States among the participants.

Odisha Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker Shri Bhawani Shankar Bhoi and Assembly Secretary Shri Satyabrata Rout are also participating in the conference.

Report: Sudam Charan Sahu, State Bureau Chief, Odisha
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