COP26: Guyana commits to creating low carbon jobs, economic opportunities

…President emphasises need for financial, technological support for SIDS

Highlighting that Small Island Developing States (SIDS) have ambition to tackle climate change, Guyana’s President Dr Irfaan Ali reinforced the need for financial and technological support to become available to aid in this global fight.
The Guyanese Head of State made the remarks during two high-level side events at the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) currently underway in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom.

Delivering remarks to the Climate Vulnerable Fund (CVF), he argued that SIDS and Low-lying Coastal Countries like Guyana need more support to execute their plans to fight climate change.

Low carbon economy
In this regard, President Ali outlined his country’s vision for a low carbon economy, making reference to the revised Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030 which he launched prior to his departure to the international summit.
A statement from the Office of the President revealed that President Ali emphasised that Guyana will “decarbonise its economy and will invest in a range of low carbon opportunities and jobs while maintaining its standing forest, which is almost as big as England and Scotland combined”.
President Ali further told the CVF that the country’s expansive forest is a global asset as it stores more than 20 gigatons of carbon, preserves priceless biodiversity and provides sustainable livelihoods for its people. As a result, he said his Government will continue to adopt an inclusive approach to the sustainable management of its forests, biodiversity and freshwater supplies.
“We will slash emissions further by transitioning towards cleaner sources of energy. Yes, we are vulnerable, but we are not helpless or without hope. We are taking decisive action to ramp up and realise these ambitions. But without the critical support – financial and technological – our best and noblest of ambitions will all flounder.”
Similarly, at the “We Mean Business” Pavilion at the Scottish Events Campus (SEC), the Guyanese Head of State declared that “we are decarbonising our domestic energy mix, creating low carbon jobs and economic opportunities, and investing in protecting against climate change that has already happened. At the core of our vision is maintaining our rainforest – which as part of the Amazon and the Guiana Shield, is almost as big as England and Scotland combined.”

CVF
At the “We Mean Business” event, President Ali spoke alongside US billionaire Marc Benioff, where he posited that the achievement of a CVF would not only be beneficial to vulnerable countries but will also create investment opportunities for climate-prosperous economies around the world.
President Ali emphasised that there are tens of millions of people who are being unfairly hurt by climate change they did not cause. This, he said, is undoubtedly tragic and should not be the case.
The President said that he hopes the world will recognise that achieving the vision of a CVF will not only benefit the vulnerable countries but “will also create trillions of dollars in investment opportunities for businesses who wish to invest in the building blocks of the new climate-prosperous economies”.
He noted that these investments can be done in areas such as renewable energy, digital infrastructure, sustainable agriculture and an array of other low-carbon industrial and employment opportunities that fall in line with a far-reaching and comprehensive vision.
It is against this backdrop, the President said he supports the commitment from companies and businessmen such as Benioff who have offered support.
Dhaka-Glasgow Declaration
According to the statement from the President’s Office, Ali has already endorsed the Dhaka-Glasgow Declaration, expressing at both events that it is a “proclamation of our commitment to being impactful in ending the climate crisis. I welcome it and endorse it.”
The Declaration focuses on climate mitigation strategies, adaptation plans and financing for the world’s most vulnerable nations.
During the “We Mean Business” forum, the Head of State posited while the Dhaka-Glasgow Declaration calls for many things, one of its pillars is a call for the world to work together with knowledge and input from the private sector.
“And yes, the private sector is a partner in this to support the development and implementation of Climate Prosperity Plans (CPPs) to realise a collective economic opportunity for countries and businesses.”
The President said that the declaration also calls for a 2020-2024 Climate Finance Delivery Plan, totalling US$100 billion annually, in support of climate action by developing countries with a 50-50 split of funds between adaptation and mitigation.

Transparency
Moreover, President Ali lobbied for there to be a transparent accountable process, especially as it relates to the US$100 billion pledge.
“I have heard various figures in relation to the $100 billion pledge and how much has actually been met, but in my own assessment what we are seeing is a lot of reorganisation of existing finances, not new finances. Existing loans that were aimed at helping developing countries are now converted as being part of the $100 billion pledge.”
He explained that if this reorganisation is done, a school, for example, that might have a small solar panel to provide light for a classroom could be classified as part of the pledge.
“We have to guard against such accounting, and we have to commit to a transparent process when we talk about the financing. This is important. What is also important for us, developing countries and vulnerable countries, is to understand that climate change is not an isolated problem. Climate change is linked to issues of food security. It is linked to issues of livelihood options and vulnerability from at-risk communities. So, our climate plan must lead to a prosperity agenda that is broad in nature that addresses fundamental needs of all the people of the developing world whether it is for health, education, food security or other services,” President Ali said. (G11)