UN backs Guyana’s calls for increased climate adaptation funding

– as Pres Ali makes case for world to act amid worsening global conflicts

Representatives of the United Nations (UN) have backed Guyana’s consistent call for increased climate adaptation funding, acknowledging that developing countries, particularly those with extensive agriculture sectors, are the most vulnerable.
On Tuesday, Guyana presided over a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) debate on the impact of climate change and food insecurity on the maintenance of international peace and security.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali, who chaired the proceedings, delivered a statement in which he called for a targeted approach to tackling food insecurity and for the world to be bold in confronting these threats.
“We believe strongly that a very targeted approach must be adopted. The Security Council must take into account the consequential effects on food security and climate, in addressing the issues of conflict and war. And these issues are intricately linked to the rule of law, democracy and governance.”
“We must adopt measures in our procedures, to deal with the effects on food and climate. At a minimum. We must be bold enough. We have the ability. We have the political will. We must now incorporate measures at the UN Security Council, to deal with climate and food, as it relates to war and conflict,” President Ali said.
Guyana’s stance for more to be done on the climate change mitigation and food security front found strong support among other UN high officials. According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Executive Secretary, Simon Stiell, there is indeed a need for more climate financing. Stiell, who hails from Grenada, a Small Island Developing State, reminded the council of commitments made during COP 28 in Dubai.

“At COP 28 in Dubai, countries agreed that now is the time to invest in designing, piloting and delivering climate adaptation plans for food systems. From planting new crops to better geological information. And communication. Countries need money for adaptation, particularly developing countries that are vulnerable to climate shocks.”
“Many of these same countries already face scarcity, fragility and conflict. However, we face significant gaps in funding climate action. And adaptation finance needs are at least 10 times greater than current international public financial flows,” Stiell added.
It was a view also supported by Deputy Director General Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Beth Bechdol, who echoed President Ali’s call for more action. According to her, there is clear evidence that climate change increases the risks of conflict and instability. In turn, conflict contributes to climate change vulnerability.
“Increasing temperatures, changing precipitation patterns and greater frequency of climate extremes are already a reality and are becoming more intense. The climate crisis spares no one. But it does not affect everyone equally or in the same way.”
“We know that the populations at greatest risk are those that depend on agriculture and natural resources. They live in rural areas. And they are farmers themselves. Their livelihoods are highly exposed and are vulnerable to climate change impacts,” Bechdol said.

Last year, Guyana was elected to serve as a non-permanent member of the UNSC in 2024, taking up that seat in January. Guyana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hugh Todd, who accompanied President Ali to the open debate, joined with other global leaders to urge the UNSC to come up with a systematic and strategic approach to handling issues of climate change and food security, and its impact of international peace and security.
At present, several global conflicts are ongoing. These include the Russian military invasion of Russia that was launched in February 2022 after months of tension between the two countries. At present this conflict is still ongoing, despite global condemnation for the invasion.
Also ongoing is the Gaza conflict between Palestinian group Hamas and Israel which heightened in October 2023 and has since escalated. Based on international reports earlier this month, some 27,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 66,000 wounded – many of whom are women and children.
Only a few weeks ago, Guyana pledged US$150,000 towards the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in support of Palestinians who are displaced and affected by the ongoing conflict in Gaza.