Odisha Speaker Surama Padhy Calls for Global Climate Action at Barbados Summit

In a powerful address at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) conference in Bridgetown, Barbados, Odisha Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy called for united global action to combat climate change.

Her speech underscored the urgency of long-term environmental solutions and the devastating consequences of inaction.

Padhy cited the increasing frequency of extreme weather events—cyclones, floods, and heatwaves—as clear indicators of a planet in distress.

“Climate change and its long-term adverse effects are a clarion call and a major concern for the entire world today,” she warned.

Drawing from Odisha’s own history, she recalled the 1999 super cyclone that claimed over 10,000 lives, contrasting it with the state’s improved disaster response during Cyclones Phailin (2013) and Fani (2019), where early warnings and government preparedness significantly reduced casualties.

Highlighting Odisha’s environmental strides, Padhy praised Bhubaneswar’s ranking as India’s fourth cleanest city and lauded conservation efforts at Chilika Lake and Similipal, both recognised for their ecological significance.

The Speaker also emphasised India’s federal structure, advocating for decentralisation and harmony between national and regional governments.

She noted that India’s Constitution fosters unity in diversity through power-sharing across its 28 states and 8 union territories.

Padhy concluded by reaffirming the CPA’s role in promoting democratic values and global brotherhood among its 56 member nations, urging collaborative efforts to safeguard both the environment and democratic institutions.