Guyana launches CLEWS to inform climate-conscious policy decisions

With funding from Canada, authorities in Guyana have launched a Climate, Land-use, Energy and Water Systems (CLEWs) Model, which can be used by policymakers to make more climate-conscious decisions in developmental planning.
CLEWs models are tools for simultaneous consideration of food, energy and water security. They are designed to assess how production and use of these resources may contribute to climate change, and how climate change may affect the resource systems.
By comparing different technologies and value chains, such models can identify pressure points, potential conflicts in resource use, and indicate synergies and trade-offs to reach several development goals simultaneously.

CLEWs can analyse policy decisions on issues such as the promotion of clean energy, competition for water and agricultural modernisation and can identify paths for policy coherence.
On Monday the Canadian Government, in collaboration with the University of Guyana (UG) launched the CLEWs modelling initiative in Guyana at the university’s, Turkeyen Campus.
Speaking at the launch event, was High Commissioner of Canada to Guyana, Sébastien Sigouin, who highlighted the important role the new technology will play in supporting the Government and its policy making capabilities.
“Through this initiative, this type of model, we can develop different scenarios to support better decision-making that ensures sustainable development and that we address challenges like climate change food security and energy needs…It will help the Government of Guyana to make informed decisions, informed plans based on science and based on data.”
The High Commissioner added, “It can ensure that the Government of Guyana takes into account the impact of climate change by linking these projects with the needs of the population in terms of food, of water, of energy and also in terms of the environment. It will allow the authorities to make climate-smart decisions when it comes to using resources; it will allow Guyana to protect its rich ecosystem and ensure the well-being of its population.”

Speaking on behalf of the Agriculture Minister at the event was Chief Hydromet Officer Dr Garvin Cummings. He emphasised that with the agriculture sector being a major anchor of the non-oil economy, the data gathered from the CLEWs model will play an integral role in assisting stakeholders to identify ways in which they can shield the sector from climate shocks.
“The sector is not without its challenges, issues such as climate variability, change in rainfall patterns, land degradation and energy consumption for radiation require strategic interventions. The CLEWs model presents an opportunity for us to explore multiple avenues, including enhanced climate resilience. By modelling different climate scenarios, we can better understand the impact of extreme weather and develop strategies to mitigate risks, ensuring food security for our people.”
The CLEWs modelling initiative in Guyana is funded by Global Affairs Canada under the Canada-CARICOM Expert Deployment Mechanism (CCEDM). It also received funds from MITACS, Canada’s leading innovation organisation.