Pres Ali lobbies Royal support for LCDS 2030 at meeting with King Charles III

– Guyana-King’s Foundation partnership to be bolstered

President Dr Irfaan Ali, on a tour of Scotland where he met with King Charles III, has successfully lobbied for support for Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030 and is confident that the King’s Foundation will support the next phase of the LCDS.
The next phase of LCDS 2030 focuses on sustainable urban development, biodiversity and water management. President Ali visited Scotland last week, where he toured several sustainable development projects that are receiving support from the United Kingdom (UK) based King’s Foundation and had a one-on-one meeting with the King himself.
According to a statement from the President, his visit to Scotland was to advance Guyana’s LCDS 2030, an initiative that the monarch has supported since before becoming King.
The President revealed that during his meeting with the King on Friday at Dumfries House, they discussed their shared commitment to climate resilience, sustainable development, agriculture, and community-driven initiatives supporting vulnerable populations.
“We spoke at length about our shared view of the world on the importance of cutting-edge sustainable development solutions. The King has been a long-term supporter of Guyana’s LCDS, which he has highlighted as a global example since it was launched in 2009.”
“I am optimistic that we will work together as partners in the years ahead, especially with the new LCDS priorities—including sustainable urban development, biodiversity, and water management,” President Ali said following the meeting.
Ali subsequently attended a private dinner with King Charles, where they had further discussions on deepening their collaboration. It is expected that Guyana’s LCDS 2030 and the King’s Foundation work, will be further highlighted during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) being held in Samoa, from October 21 to 26, 2024.
“I told His Majesty that I look forward to highlighting Guyana and the King’s Foundation’s work across the Commonwealth, including when we meet next at CHOGM in a few weeks,” the President noted.
“Before I came, I was aware of the admirable work of the King’s Foundation — but seeing it first-hand here in Scotland has been inspiring. I believe that there is a lot we can learn from each other, and that Guyana can be an example for the Commonwealth on our new priorities, just as we have been an example on forests for the past 15 years.”

Visits
Among the projects President Ali toured, were facilities that provide critical support to local and vulnerable populations across Scotland. These include programmes for unemployed youth, students, and individuals facing health challenges.
In particular, President Ali visited projects that focused on Green Space Urban Planning including urban regeneration and the creation of green spaces. According to the statement, President Ali expressed a keen interest in replicating such projects in Guyana, as part of his government’s focus on urban renewal and eco-friendly urban design and to contribute to improved well-being for local communities.
Indeed, earlier this month during a high-level discussion that focused on Guyana’s LCDS at the Arthur Chung Conference Center (ACCC), President Ali had said that the King’s Foundation would be providing support to Guyana in this very area.
For instance, he had noted that Georgetown will, with support from the British-based King’s Foundation, be transformed under the rollout of the next phase of the strategy. President Ali, whose doctorate is in Urban and Regional Planning, noted that the King’s Foundation will be providing support to Guyana in the area of sustainable urban development.
President Ali also visited Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Programmes in Scotland, as well as a regenerative agriculture centre. This centre was equipped with facilities for regenerative agricultural practices, such as topsoil regeneration. This visit was of particular significance since Guyana is leading the Caribbean region when it comes to sustainable agriculture.
Meanwhile, President Ali’s visits also included touring high-quality, sustainable housing projects. This comes even as the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government is well on track to fulfilling its manifesto promise of delivering 50,000 house lots by 2025.
“These projects focus on building the skills needed for modern homes, reducing energy consumption, and promoting green building practices, aligning with Guyana’s goals of creating environmentally friendly, inclusive housing developments,” the statement from the President said.
“His Excellency engaged with artisans at textile workshops supporting local economic development, observing how traditional skills are being preserved while incorporating sustainable practices. The workshops highlight the importance of community-driven enterprises that empower marginalised groups, including women and youth.”
Following seven months of consultations, the Dr. Irfaan Ali-led Administration launched the updated LCDS 2030 in 2022 and laid the document in the National Assembly. Under the first LCDS, Guyana and Norway had signed a US$250 million agreement enabling Guyana to earn payments for forest climate services.
Under the second LCDS, Guyana inked the historic US$750 million multi-year agreement for the sale of high-quality carbon credits to the Hess Corporation.