Guyana Chronicle Editorial, Thursday 03 December 2009 - Guyana makes its mark. http://www.guyanachronicle.com/editorial.html#Anchor-----------47239
WHATEVER is the eventual outcome of the United Nations climate change conference under way in Copenhagen, Denmark, Guyana can be proud of its contributions thus far to the global cause.
President Bharrat Jagdeo has said that this country has been building a coalition with other tropical forest countries for the Copenhagen meeting.
He announced in Trinidad and Tobago, after the Commonwealth summit there, that Guyana and Papua New-Guinea will be co-hosting an event at Copenhagen and this country has been binding with Suriname, Belize, Gabon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and others in the run-up to Copenhagen.
During a lecture Monday at the St. Augustine campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI), he noted that Guyana is also a party to the declaration issued by Amazon Basin countries in Manaus, Brazil, last week when President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva hosted a summit ahead of the Copenhagen conference.
“We hope that we can influence what takes place in Copenhagen and this is why our model is getting so much publicity around the world”, he said, recalling that Britain’s Prince Charles recently spoke about Guyana’s model.
Other countries are also using Guyana’s model which is largely centred on avoiding deforestation although it is not the only model because for deforestation there are different categories of countries and models have to be adjusted.
But in his detailed presentation at UWI, President Jagdeo noted that Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) is the only one that has advanced so far and this country feels it can become a very important part of the abatement solution.
“We have had a long march to get where we are today…to develop the REDD (Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation) concept and to get REDD expanded to REDD Plus (avoiding deforestation, sustainable forestry management, reforestation, aforestation)”, he said.
Mr. Jagdeo noted that REDD Plus has been accepted as part of the United Nations lexicon and there is now significant support from the developed and developing countries for this new concept.
He recalled the offer he made about three years ago to deploy this country’s forests in the cause of climate change and reiterated that to get REDD approved in a global climate change agreement, a national scale model was needed.
“We are the only country that has done this so far. We have a national scale model covering the entire forest”.
He outlined the development and central elements of the LCDS in which forest carbon is a commodity which Guyana wanted to establish as a commodity which could be traded because it has a value to the world.
He stressed that national acceptance of LCDS was “very important for us” and referred to the nationwide three-month consultation on the draft with stakeholders and others.
“We are going out to tender for an internationally replicable Monitoring Reporting and Verification (MRV) system that will use remote sensing devices, satellite imagery to identifying any change of carbon stocks in our forests. With those techniques we will be able to assess whether the country performs in accordance with the agreement”, the President said.
He recalled the signing last month of the Memorandum of Understanding with Norway which will provide US$250M to support the LCDS over the next five years.
Whether there is financing or not in Copenhagen, Guyana already has an MOU with Norway which Mr. Jagdeo said was built on the work done in the Informal Working Group after the G20 meeting in London in April this year.
These are solid achievements by this country and not whims and fancies that some local and overseas-based political and other critics of the Guyana Government continue to indulge in through their blinkered views of the LCDS.
Guyana can hold its head high on the road to Copenhagen and after.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
At ACTO meeting…Guyana nudges Amazon countries on climate change action
Guyana Chronicle new item, Thursday 03 December 2009 -
At ACTO meeting…Guyana nudges Amazon countries on climate change action. http://www.guyanachronicle.com/news.html
CHAIRMAN of the Climate Change Unit in Office of the President, Mr. Shyam Nokta, has underscored the important role the Amazon region can play in the climate change fight.
He did so while addressing tourism delegates from seven of the eight member countries of Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organisation (ACTO), who are participating in the four-day meeting begun here Tuesday.
The participants, deliberating on strategic visioning, planning and implementation of sustainable tourism development for the Amazon as a single geo-destination, at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara.
ACTO, an inter-governmental organisation that unites eight countries of the Amazon Basin – Bolivia, Brazil, Columbia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela - was formed in 2003, after being founded through the Amazon Cooperation Treaty (ACT) signed in 1978.
In his presentation on ‘Tourism and Low Carbon Development’, Nokta alluded to the tourism context within the wider climate change agenda and the importance of the Amazon.
He mentioned some of the initiatives that Guyana has been undertaking in recent times, specifically its thrust in developing a Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and the approaches taken.
“As you spend the next few days talking about tourism and planning for tourism in this region and looking at the opportunities and the challenges, it is important that we recognise the important role that the Amazon can play in this very important issue of climate change,” Nokta reiterated.
About the challenges faced and what scientists are saying, he said the world is already witnessing as much as a 0.7 degree rise in global temperature and, in the last 50 years alone, carbon dioxide levels have grown more rapidly than ever before, at between 1.5 to 2 parts per million per year.
Nokta said every year of inaction is contributing a range of four to five parts per million per year and, if unchecked, “we are going to be faced with a catastrophic climate change situation.”
Effects
He said: “Already, we are starting to witness the effects of climate change in every country, in every region and the Amazon has not been left out.”
“So, it means that we have to take urgent action at a global level to address this issue of climate change.”
Nokta said the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has indicated that, to achieve, at minimum, a two degrees rise in global temperature, the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has to be stabilised at 450 parts per million.
He said this would mean that greenhouse gas emissions have to be cut by between 25 and 40 per cent and, in particular, the industrialised countries would need to take the lead in doing so.
Nokta said approximately 17 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide emission reduction annually needs to be secured.
“When we look at deforestation, right now it contributes approximately 20 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions and, of the 17 gigatonnes required if we are going to reach that stabilisation level, only about five will come from developed countries,” he calculated.
Nokta said, based on the trend in commitments, even at this stage approaching the Copenhagen meeting in Denmark later this month, the remaining 12 gigatonnes have to come from developing countries.
He said there is an informal working group on interim financing which has been meeting over the last year, representing the majority of forest countries in the world today.
Nokta said seven of the Amazon countries are a part of that group which has come up with a proposal deploying forests which can realise seven gigatonnes of reduction.
“What it represents is an immediate action that forest countries are prepared to do, that can bring results but also means one of the lowest cost abatement solutions, even as we go into Copenhagen,” he posited.
Nokta said: “It means that countries of the Amazon are willing to step up and commit their valuable forests resources in this global fight against climate change. What we need to see happen is a similar commitment on the part of the developed world to come up with the financing that is required.”
He continued: “In our efforts towards climate change abatement at the global level, we need to ensure that we can develop our economies sustainably even as we move forward to deploying our forests and that is the thrust of Guyana’s LCDS.”
Principles
Nokta repeated that the strategy is based on the principles of avoided deforestation and opportunity cost, which Guyana has been doing, working with a number of local and international experts.
“But, importantly, Guyana’s LCDS represents a national scale model, a model that looks at forest at a national level and seeks to address many of the challenges that are, sometimes, associated with undertaking small pilots,” he offered.
Nokta observed that there are a number of other initiatives that the Amazon countries are undertaking and he recalled that, at the recent important summit convened by Brazil President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in Manaus, again the commitment of Amazonian countries was underlined.
“Brazil, in particular, has put on the table proposals to reduce by as much as 80 per cent their deforestation rate up to 2020 as well as proposals to cut their greenhouse gas emissions,” he said.
“This, we hope can set the trend for more and more high emitting countries to come on board even as we move into this very important Copenhagen meeting,” Nokta said.
“Clearly our region is working closely on the issue of climate change, on the issue of how we can work together to deploy our forests as a region but also how we can work together to ensure that we can receive adequate financing to make it an economically worthwhile and rational decision,” he asserted.
At ACTO meeting…Guyana nudges Amazon countries on climate change action. http://www.guyanachronicle.com/news.html
CHAIRMAN of the Climate Change Unit in Office of the President, Mr. Shyam Nokta, has underscored the important role the Amazon region can play in the climate change fight.
He did so while addressing tourism delegates from seven of the eight member countries of Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organisation (ACTO), who are participating in the four-day meeting begun here Tuesday.
The participants, deliberating on strategic visioning, planning and implementation of sustainable tourism development for the Amazon as a single geo-destination, at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara.
ACTO, an inter-governmental organisation that unites eight countries of the Amazon Basin – Bolivia, Brazil, Columbia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela - was formed in 2003, after being founded through the Amazon Cooperation Treaty (ACT) signed in 1978.
In his presentation on ‘Tourism and Low Carbon Development’, Nokta alluded to the tourism context within the wider climate change agenda and the importance of the Amazon.
He mentioned some of the initiatives that Guyana has been undertaking in recent times, specifically its thrust in developing a Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and the approaches taken.
“As you spend the next few days talking about tourism and planning for tourism in this region and looking at the opportunities and the challenges, it is important that we recognise the important role that the Amazon can play in this very important issue of climate change,” Nokta reiterated.
About the challenges faced and what scientists are saying, he said the world is already witnessing as much as a 0.7 degree rise in global temperature and, in the last 50 years alone, carbon dioxide levels have grown more rapidly than ever before, at between 1.5 to 2 parts per million per year.
Nokta said every year of inaction is contributing a range of four to five parts per million per year and, if unchecked, “we are going to be faced with a catastrophic climate change situation.”
Effects
He said: “Already, we are starting to witness the effects of climate change in every country, in every region and the Amazon has not been left out.”
“So, it means that we have to take urgent action at a global level to address this issue of climate change.”
Nokta said the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has indicated that, to achieve, at minimum, a two degrees rise in global temperature, the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has to be stabilised at 450 parts per million.
He said this would mean that greenhouse gas emissions have to be cut by between 25 and 40 per cent and, in particular, the industrialised countries would need to take the lead in doing so.
Nokta said approximately 17 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide emission reduction annually needs to be secured.
“When we look at deforestation, right now it contributes approximately 20 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions and, of the 17 gigatonnes required if we are going to reach that stabilisation level, only about five will come from developed countries,” he calculated.
Nokta said, based on the trend in commitments, even at this stage approaching the Copenhagen meeting in Denmark later this month, the remaining 12 gigatonnes have to come from developing countries.
He said there is an informal working group on interim financing which has been meeting over the last year, representing the majority of forest countries in the world today.
Nokta said seven of the Amazon countries are a part of that group which has come up with a proposal deploying forests which can realise seven gigatonnes of reduction.
“What it represents is an immediate action that forest countries are prepared to do, that can bring results but also means one of the lowest cost abatement solutions, even as we go into Copenhagen,” he posited.
Nokta said: “It means that countries of the Amazon are willing to step up and commit their valuable forests resources in this global fight against climate change. What we need to see happen is a similar commitment on the part of the developed world to come up with the financing that is required.”
He continued: “In our efforts towards climate change abatement at the global level, we need to ensure that we can develop our economies sustainably even as we move forward to deploying our forests and that is the thrust of Guyana’s LCDS.”
Principles
Nokta repeated that the strategy is based on the principles of avoided deforestation and opportunity cost, which Guyana has been doing, working with a number of local and international experts.
“But, importantly, Guyana’s LCDS represents a national scale model, a model that looks at forest at a national level and seeks to address many of the challenges that are, sometimes, associated with undertaking small pilots,” he offered.
Nokta observed that there are a number of other initiatives that the Amazon countries are undertaking and he recalled that, at the recent important summit convened by Brazil President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in Manaus, again the commitment of Amazonian countries was underlined.
“Brazil, in particular, has put on the table proposals to reduce by as much as 80 per cent their deforestation rate up to 2020 as well as proposals to cut their greenhouse gas emissions,” he said.
“This, we hope can set the trend for more and more high emitting countries to come on board even as we move into this very important Copenhagen meeting,” Nokta said.
“Clearly our region is working closely on the issue of climate change, on the issue of how we can work together to deploy our forests as a region but also how we can work together to ensure that we can receive adequate financing to make it an economically worthwhile and rational decision,” he asserted.
Guyana hosting workshop to proliferate REDD+ in CARICOM
Guyana Chronicle top story, Thursday 03 December 2009 - Guyana hosting workshop to proliferate REDD+ in CARICOM. http://www.guyanachronicle.com/topstory.html#Anchor-Guyan-22608
By Tajeram Mohabir
THE Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) yesterday, in collaboration with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), began a two-day workshop on Guyana’s Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) + programme aimed at proliferating similar initiatives in Belize, Dominica and Suriname.
http://www.guyanachronicle.com/forestry-0633.gif
Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud, at Podium, addresses the gathering yesterday. (Carl Croker photo)
Among the participants were representatives of these CARICOM States who are to work out the modalities for such a scheme in their respective countries.
The objectives of the forum include to review possible financing mechanisms for compensating countries with high forests and low deforestation rates for their efforts to preserve forest cover; to examine options and recommend an applicable methodology and advise on action to further develop the selected one and pursue its implementation.
Speaking at the opening, convened in the GFC Headquarters, Water Street, Kingston, Georgetown, Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud said the workshop is timely and will enable those participating in and out of Guyana to benefit from ongoing local activities to address challenges posed by climate change.
He said it also gives Guyana the opportunity to showcase its pioneering and visionary work, in this area, which has been done in a manner that encourages regional and global replication.
Mr. Persaud pointed out that Guyana has been very pro-active in combating climate change and promoting REDD and, as a nation which has about five per cent land area covered with forest, it has not gone the route of some countries which have overutilised their natural resources far beyond sustainability, to promote socio-economic development.
He said successive governments have always taken a balanced approach in the use of forestry resources, complying with guidelines laid down by reputable world organisations such as the FAO and the International Tropical and Timber Organisation (ITTO).
In addition, Persaud said this Government has put in place supporting policy and legislative framework to ensure transparency in land allocation, secure tenure rights to State leases and robust checks and balances, inclusive of a national log tracking system.
And, despite continuous logging for centuries, Guyana has a deforestation rate of less than 0.3 per cent, mainly because of deliberate policies to safeguard the eco-system, he noted.
However, Persaud observed that, with the opening of the Berbice and Takutu river bridges and the hinterland for gold and diamond mining, many local and overseas investors have expressed interest in establishing large plantation type agricultural operations.
THREATS
He said those opportunities pose significant threats to the country’s 15 million hectares of pristine natural forest and, for that reason, Guyana, like many similar minded countries, has taken a position that REDD cannot focus only on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and it cannot be based on its low historical emission rates.
Rather, Persaud, whose portfolio includes responsibility for forestry, said Guyana must consider, as well, avoided deforestation, enhancement of carbon stocks and sustainable forest management.
He said attention must be given to national circumstances, especially in countries with high forests and low deforestation rates which have to look at future projected emissions that can be considered potential foregone opportunities.
Persaud said Guyana underlined those principles when it was one of the first countries to submit a readiness preparation plan to the World Bank and one of the first three to have their documentation approved.
He disclosed that Guyana was also the first country to develop a monitoring, reporting and verification system that can be adapted to other countries’ specific needs and which will take into account future projected emissions.
However, he contended that the recent signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Norway, which guarantees significant financial flows to Guyana once it meets agreed obligations, was the “feather in the cap”.
“These are laudable achievements but Guyana has gone a step further in creating the vital linkage of REDD + with a comprehensive national development framework.
“While the world is focused on REDD and REDD +, we have recognised that these initiatives are too complex to be addressed by the forestry sector alone.
“As such, we have made REDD + a component of President (Bharrat) Jagdeo’s visionary Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS),” Persaud told the gathering of national and foreign forestry sector officials.
The comprehensive LCDS looks at garnering financial incentives through REDD + that will be used for activities linked to adaptation and mitigation, the development of high potential low carbon investment sectors and social empowerment and national development.
By Tajeram Mohabir
THE Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) yesterday, in collaboration with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), began a two-day workshop on Guyana’s Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) + programme aimed at proliferating similar initiatives in Belize, Dominica and Suriname.
http://www.guyanachronicle.com/forestry-0633.gif
Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud, at Podium, addresses the gathering yesterday. (Carl Croker photo)
Among the participants were representatives of these CARICOM States who are to work out the modalities for such a scheme in their respective countries.
The objectives of the forum include to review possible financing mechanisms for compensating countries with high forests and low deforestation rates for their efforts to preserve forest cover; to examine options and recommend an applicable methodology and advise on action to further develop the selected one and pursue its implementation.
Speaking at the opening, convened in the GFC Headquarters, Water Street, Kingston, Georgetown, Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud said the workshop is timely and will enable those participating in and out of Guyana to benefit from ongoing local activities to address challenges posed by climate change.
He said it also gives Guyana the opportunity to showcase its pioneering and visionary work, in this area, which has been done in a manner that encourages regional and global replication.
Mr. Persaud pointed out that Guyana has been very pro-active in combating climate change and promoting REDD and, as a nation which has about five per cent land area covered with forest, it has not gone the route of some countries which have overutilised their natural resources far beyond sustainability, to promote socio-economic development.
He said successive governments have always taken a balanced approach in the use of forestry resources, complying with guidelines laid down by reputable world organisations such as the FAO and the International Tropical and Timber Organisation (ITTO).
In addition, Persaud said this Government has put in place supporting policy and legislative framework to ensure transparency in land allocation, secure tenure rights to State leases and robust checks and balances, inclusive of a national log tracking system.
And, despite continuous logging for centuries, Guyana has a deforestation rate of less than 0.3 per cent, mainly because of deliberate policies to safeguard the eco-system, he noted.
However, Persaud observed that, with the opening of the Berbice and Takutu river bridges and the hinterland for gold and diamond mining, many local and overseas investors have expressed interest in establishing large plantation type agricultural operations.
THREATS
He said those opportunities pose significant threats to the country’s 15 million hectares of pristine natural forest and, for that reason, Guyana, like many similar minded countries, has taken a position that REDD cannot focus only on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and it cannot be based on its low historical emission rates.
Rather, Persaud, whose portfolio includes responsibility for forestry, said Guyana must consider, as well, avoided deforestation, enhancement of carbon stocks and sustainable forest management.
He said attention must be given to national circumstances, especially in countries with high forests and low deforestation rates which have to look at future projected emissions that can be considered potential foregone opportunities.
Persaud said Guyana underlined those principles when it was one of the first countries to submit a readiness preparation plan to the World Bank and one of the first three to have their documentation approved.
He disclosed that Guyana was also the first country to develop a monitoring, reporting and verification system that can be adapted to other countries’ specific needs and which will take into account future projected emissions.
However, he contended that the recent signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Norway, which guarantees significant financial flows to Guyana once it meets agreed obligations, was the “feather in the cap”.
“These are laudable achievements but Guyana has gone a step further in creating the vital linkage of REDD + with a comprehensive national development framework.
“While the world is focused on REDD and REDD +, we have recognised that these initiatives are too complex to be addressed by the forestry sector alone.
“As such, we have made REDD + a component of President (Bharrat) Jagdeo’s visionary Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS),” Persaud told the gathering of national and foreign forestry sector officials.
The comprehensive LCDS looks at garnering financial incentives through REDD + that will be used for activities linked to adaptation and mitigation, the development of high potential low carbon investment sectors and social empowerment and national development.
IAST symposium ventilates ideas on LCDS opportunities, gains for Guyana
Guyana Chronicle top story, Thursday 03 December 2009 - "IAST symposium ventilates ideas on LCDS opportunities, gains for Guyana" - http://www.guyanachronicle.com/topstory.html#Anchor-IAS-24863
IAST symposium ventilates ideas on LCDS opportunities, gains for Guyana
By Priya Nauth
THE Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST) hosted a symposium on Monday evening to highlight the opportunities that exist in the value-added agricultural market for Guyana.
http://www.guyanachronicle.com/iast-0099.gif
Director of IAST and Departments of Physics, Astronomy and Chemistry at Trent Biomaterials Research Centre, Trent University in Canada, Professor Suresh Narine.
The programme, at the Guyana International Conference Centre at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, was themed ‘Wealth Generation, the Environment and Sustainability: How the Low Carbon Development Strategy fits in the growing trends in Green Technologies around the world’.
Among those who attended were Prime Minister Samuel Hinds; Minister of Housing and Water, Mr. Irfaan Ali; other Government officials and members of the Diplomatic Corps.
Three insightful presentations were made by Director of IAST and Departments of Physics, Astronomy and Chemistry at Trent Biomaterials Research Centre, Trent University in Canada, Professor Suresh Narine; Professor Nissam Garti of the Casali Institute of Applied Chemistry, Hebrew University, Jerusalem; and Professor Lech Ozimek of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta.
The last spoke about effective ways how Guyana can capitalise on value-added agricultural markers at low cost and the other two also sought to explain that markets can be created for new sustainable products, by growing crops without the need for high investments, such as botanicals, neutraceuticals, nutritional foods and pharmaceuticals.
http://www.guyanachronicle.com/iast-0097.gif
From left: Professor Lech Ozimek of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta; Professor Nissam Garti of the Casali Institute of Applied Chemistry, Hebrew University, Jerusalem; and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Guyana Mr. Tota Mangar.
Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Robert Persaud, in introductory and welcoming remarks, attested that Guyana, today, holds the leadership position in articulating and advancing the LCDS approach to development which, fundamentally, addresses the issue of climate change.
He said, in the national context, it assures Guyana of a new generation of economic development and related activities.
“While many theories and models question the compatibility between climate change and economic expansion, President Jagdeo’s LCDS, in fact, presents a unique model of compatibility,” Persaud observed.
NEW WAY
He said an integral part of the LCDS is the development of renewable energy technology or green technology, as a means of promoting that new way of economic activities that the country badly needs.
Persaud said as recognised in the earlier National Development Strategy (NDS) and National Competitiveness Strategy (NCS), which are intrinsically linked to the LCDS, one of the ways in which the economy can be enhanced or expanded is the embrace of sustainable and economic development.
“And, certainly, it is one of the most important aspects of the LCDS and, at this point in time, one of our largest hopes for the future of Guyana’s development, especially in these uncertain global times,” he added.
Persaud said the LCDS also anticipates, promotes and proposes growth in agriculture, the non-traditional timber products sector and activities identified with tourism, information technology (IT), health and various other services as economic potentials.
However, he pointed out that this anticipated growth is centred on sustainable models and the growth of the value-added agricultural and non-traditional timber products can be managed in ways which ensure it is sustainable and climate change neutral.
Persaud said it is important to realise that the potential exists and will develop with or without immediate funding, although there is international momentum building.
He alluded to the Guyana and Norway Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and the Port of Spain climate change consensus as clear indications of the international community recognising the importance of the approach this country has been advocating.
“For this and obvious reasons, this symposium is particularly timely and very important because it is targeted at highlighting the opportunities that exist in value added agricultural markets for Guyana,” Persaud said.
According to him: “It is important for us to realise that the dialogue taking place here this evening is one in which we will have to continue over the next decade, as we move towards the development of sustainable high value products, processes and markets for agricultural output and, in doing so, accelerate the diversification of the agriculture sector in Guyana, which can meet the needs for development and growth for the next generation and beyond.”
He said such discussions are not only about the Copenhagen meeting and current issues but setting “our sights on our vision and also the people of Guyana’s desire for a higher level of development and prosperity.”
Like Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Guyana (UG), Mr. Tota Mangar, Minister Persaud commended Professor Narine and IAST for the initiative.
Conveying greetings from UG, Mangar lauded IAST for its vision and foresight in hosting the forum immediately after the just concluded Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) and only a few days before the Copenhagen, Denmark, summit.
GLOBAL IMPLICATIONS
He underscored that climate change and its global implications are undoubtedly the most talked about issues in today’s modern world.
“It is against the background of real threats posed by climate change and rising temperatures and the dire need for a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions that Guyana has, over the months, vigorously embarked on an LCDS, pioneered locally, regionally and internationally by our very dynamic and energetic President Bharrat Jagdeo,” Mangar stated.
He reminded that the strategy’s overall aim is to transform Guyana’s economy while combating climate change and intended to provide long term sustainability to improvements in the local social and economic sectors and the world at large.
Mangar said UG is making a meaningful contribution, having participated at the launch of the draft document in June this year, as well as hosted an impressive presentation and consultation exercise involving President Jagdeo at the Turkeyen Campus.
Manger said, more significantly, UG did a thorough critique of the draft LCDS, which it recently submitted to President Jagdeo.
“And we have every reason to believe some of our inputs were considered where the revised document for Copenhagen is concerned,” he said.
“It is no secret that Guyana’s LCDS is both a brilliant and pragmatic concept which has engaged the most vigorous and passionate advocacy of President Jagdeo,” Mangar noted.
He said it is also reassuring that it gained attention with Norway and Guyana pact, which was followed by the announced establishment of a global emergency fund to reduce the destruction of tropical rainforests by Britain’s Prince Charles and a pledge by the United States Government to contribute to a forests protection fund.
Closer home, Mangar observed that there is unified approach by the Amazonian countries, in relation to REDD (reduced emission from deforestation and degradation) and it took centre stage at the CHOGM.
He maintained that climate change is a reality, necessitating immediate and decisive action.
SIGNIFICANT NATURE
“UG is pleased to be associated with this symposium of such a timely and significant nature with presentations from highly qualified, internationally renowned and experienced scholars and professionals,” Mangar asserted.
Narine, for his part, acknowledged that Guyana has taken a leading role in this regard and there is a growing momentum in the world, recognising the importance of climate change.
“What we want to talk about today is not just about climate change. We want to talk about the opportunities that arise as we begin to realise that climate change is important,” he said.
He warned that this generation and others will have to grapple with a very serious problem and linked the whole catastrophic climate change situation to opportunities for the development of technologies and wealth generation, therefore improving the quality of life and poverty eradication through sustainable and green technology.
Narine agreed that the challenges being faced are mostly by developing countries and said: “As the developing countries begin to grapple, it is quite interesting that countries like Guyana, instead of complaining, have come up with a suggestion on a way forward.”
“Whilst we need, absolutely, to maintain the forested areas that we have, we also have to do more in order to abate climate change and the thrust of all that we are going to talk about today is about what else Guyana can do,” he said.
Narine said Guyana is poised, with all the parameters that are required, to take advantage of what he deemed a biological revolution.
“In addition to the leadership that we have demonstrated, with linking development and climate change and preservation of forest, there is what we would like to call a wonderful opportunity to also harness a new pathway towards development,” he posited.
Narine said crops can be manipulated to create materials, so that agriculture is the pivotal wealth potential of the country.
IAST symposium ventilates ideas on LCDS opportunities, gains for Guyana
By Priya Nauth
THE Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST) hosted a symposium on Monday evening to highlight the opportunities that exist in the value-added agricultural market for Guyana.
http://www.guyanachronicle.com/iast-0099.gif
Director of IAST and Departments of Physics, Astronomy and Chemistry at Trent Biomaterials Research Centre, Trent University in Canada, Professor Suresh Narine.
The programme, at the Guyana International Conference Centre at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, was themed ‘Wealth Generation, the Environment and Sustainability: How the Low Carbon Development Strategy fits in the growing trends in Green Technologies around the world’.
Among those who attended were Prime Minister Samuel Hinds; Minister of Housing and Water, Mr. Irfaan Ali; other Government officials and members of the Diplomatic Corps.
Three insightful presentations were made by Director of IAST and Departments of Physics, Astronomy and Chemistry at Trent Biomaterials Research Centre, Trent University in Canada, Professor Suresh Narine; Professor Nissam Garti of the Casali Institute of Applied Chemistry, Hebrew University, Jerusalem; and Professor Lech Ozimek of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta.
The last spoke about effective ways how Guyana can capitalise on value-added agricultural markers at low cost and the other two also sought to explain that markets can be created for new sustainable products, by growing crops without the need for high investments, such as botanicals, neutraceuticals, nutritional foods and pharmaceuticals.
http://www.guyanachronicle.com/iast-0097.gif
From left: Professor Lech Ozimek of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta; Professor Nissam Garti of the Casali Institute of Applied Chemistry, Hebrew University, Jerusalem; and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Guyana Mr. Tota Mangar.
Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Robert Persaud, in introductory and welcoming remarks, attested that Guyana, today, holds the leadership position in articulating and advancing the LCDS approach to development which, fundamentally, addresses the issue of climate change.
He said, in the national context, it assures Guyana of a new generation of economic development and related activities.
“While many theories and models question the compatibility between climate change and economic expansion, President Jagdeo’s LCDS, in fact, presents a unique model of compatibility,” Persaud observed.
NEW WAY
He said an integral part of the LCDS is the development of renewable energy technology or green technology, as a means of promoting that new way of economic activities that the country badly needs.
Persaud said as recognised in the earlier National Development Strategy (NDS) and National Competitiveness Strategy (NCS), which are intrinsically linked to the LCDS, one of the ways in which the economy can be enhanced or expanded is the embrace of sustainable and economic development.
“And, certainly, it is one of the most important aspects of the LCDS and, at this point in time, one of our largest hopes for the future of Guyana’s development, especially in these uncertain global times,” he added.
Persaud said the LCDS also anticipates, promotes and proposes growth in agriculture, the non-traditional timber products sector and activities identified with tourism, information technology (IT), health and various other services as economic potentials.
However, he pointed out that this anticipated growth is centred on sustainable models and the growth of the value-added agricultural and non-traditional timber products can be managed in ways which ensure it is sustainable and climate change neutral.
Persaud said it is important to realise that the potential exists and will develop with or without immediate funding, although there is international momentum building.
He alluded to the Guyana and Norway Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and the Port of Spain climate change consensus as clear indications of the international community recognising the importance of the approach this country has been advocating.
“For this and obvious reasons, this symposium is particularly timely and very important because it is targeted at highlighting the opportunities that exist in value added agricultural markets for Guyana,” Persaud said.
According to him: “It is important for us to realise that the dialogue taking place here this evening is one in which we will have to continue over the next decade, as we move towards the development of sustainable high value products, processes and markets for agricultural output and, in doing so, accelerate the diversification of the agriculture sector in Guyana, which can meet the needs for development and growth for the next generation and beyond.”
He said such discussions are not only about the Copenhagen meeting and current issues but setting “our sights on our vision and also the people of Guyana’s desire for a higher level of development and prosperity.”
Like Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Guyana (UG), Mr. Tota Mangar, Minister Persaud commended Professor Narine and IAST for the initiative.
Conveying greetings from UG, Mangar lauded IAST for its vision and foresight in hosting the forum immediately after the just concluded Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) and only a few days before the Copenhagen, Denmark, summit.
GLOBAL IMPLICATIONS
He underscored that climate change and its global implications are undoubtedly the most talked about issues in today’s modern world.
“It is against the background of real threats posed by climate change and rising temperatures and the dire need for a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions that Guyana has, over the months, vigorously embarked on an LCDS, pioneered locally, regionally and internationally by our very dynamic and energetic President Bharrat Jagdeo,” Mangar stated.
He reminded that the strategy’s overall aim is to transform Guyana’s economy while combating climate change and intended to provide long term sustainability to improvements in the local social and economic sectors and the world at large.
Mangar said UG is making a meaningful contribution, having participated at the launch of the draft document in June this year, as well as hosted an impressive presentation and consultation exercise involving President Jagdeo at the Turkeyen Campus.
Manger said, more significantly, UG did a thorough critique of the draft LCDS, which it recently submitted to President Jagdeo.
“And we have every reason to believe some of our inputs were considered where the revised document for Copenhagen is concerned,” he said.
“It is no secret that Guyana’s LCDS is both a brilliant and pragmatic concept which has engaged the most vigorous and passionate advocacy of President Jagdeo,” Mangar noted.
He said it is also reassuring that it gained attention with Norway and Guyana pact, which was followed by the announced establishment of a global emergency fund to reduce the destruction of tropical rainforests by Britain’s Prince Charles and a pledge by the United States Government to contribute to a forests protection fund.
Closer home, Mangar observed that there is unified approach by the Amazonian countries, in relation to REDD (reduced emission from deforestation and degradation) and it took centre stage at the CHOGM.
He maintained that climate change is a reality, necessitating immediate and decisive action.
SIGNIFICANT NATURE
“UG is pleased to be associated with this symposium of such a timely and significant nature with presentations from highly qualified, internationally renowned and experienced scholars and professionals,” Mangar asserted.
Narine, for his part, acknowledged that Guyana has taken a leading role in this regard and there is a growing momentum in the world, recognising the importance of climate change.
“What we want to talk about today is not just about climate change. We want to talk about the opportunities that arise as we begin to realise that climate change is important,” he said.
He warned that this generation and others will have to grapple with a very serious problem and linked the whole catastrophic climate change situation to opportunities for the development of technologies and wealth generation, therefore improving the quality of life and poverty eradication through sustainable and green technology.
Narine agreed that the challenges being faced are mostly by developing countries and said: “As the developing countries begin to grapple, it is quite interesting that countries like Guyana, instead of complaining, have come up with a suggestion on a way forward.”
“Whilst we need, absolutely, to maintain the forested areas that we have, we also have to do more in order to abate climate change and the thrust of all that we are going to talk about today is about what else Guyana can do,” he said.
Narine said Guyana is poised, with all the parameters that are required, to take advantage of what he deemed a biological revolution.
“In addition to the leadership that we have demonstrated, with linking development and climate change and preservation of forest, there is what we would like to call a wonderful opportunity to also harness a new pathway towards development,” he posited.
Narine said crops can be manipulated to create materials, so that agriculture is the pivotal wealth potential of the country.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Updated low carbon strategy still to be released
Stabroek News news item, Wednesday 02 December 2009 - "Updated low carbon strategy still to be released" - http://www.stabroeknews.com/2009/stories/12/02/updated-low-carbon-strategy-still-to-be-released/
The updated version of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) is yet to be released despite a commitment by the Office of Climate Change (OCC) on November 15 that this would be done within two weeks.
Attempts by this newspaper yesterday to get an update from the OCC were futile as the number provided was met with a pre-recorded message stating ‘your party is unavailable’. A direct line to Head of the OCC, Shyam Nokta was met with the message that the number was temporarily disconnected. The OCC is located within the Office of the President (OP) and when OP Press Liaison Officer, Kwame McCoy was contacted, he stated that he was aware of the updated LCDS’ promised release but would have to check for the date and get back to this newspaper.
In a press release published in this newspaper on November 16, the OCC said that the upgraded LCDS document which will integrate views from the recently held national consultation and the agreement signed between Guyana and Norway would be released within two weeks. The release had noted that Norway has “committed to paying Guyana for forest climate services to the value of up to a quarter of a billion (US) dollars by 2015.”
The release had said that the new LCDS document would be released before the Copenhagen meeting of the United Nations Framework Conference on Climate Change (UNFCCC) starting on Monday where it is expected to receive considerable international attention. It had stated that the updated LCDS will show how the agreement is the start of a phased approach to integrate Guyana’s climate services into the global economy where ultimately a value is placed on Guyana’s forests that make them more economically valuable alive than dead. The LCDS will outline how this could happen over the next decade and how Norway’s payments will catalyse the start of that process.
The updated version of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) is yet to be released despite a commitment by the Office of Climate Change (OCC) on November 15 that this would be done within two weeks.
Attempts by this newspaper yesterday to get an update from the OCC were futile as the number provided was met with a pre-recorded message stating ‘your party is unavailable’. A direct line to Head of the OCC, Shyam Nokta was met with the message that the number was temporarily disconnected. The OCC is located within the Office of the President (OP) and when OP Press Liaison Officer, Kwame McCoy was contacted, he stated that he was aware of the updated LCDS’ promised release but would have to check for the date and get back to this newspaper.
In a press release published in this newspaper on November 16, the OCC said that the upgraded LCDS document which will integrate views from the recently held national consultation and the agreement signed between Guyana and Norway would be released within two weeks. The release had noted that Norway has “committed to paying Guyana for forest climate services to the value of up to a quarter of a billion (US) dollars by 2015.”
The release had said that the new LCDS document would be released before the Copenhagen meeting of the United Nations Framework Conference on Climate Change (UNFCCC) starting on Monday where it is expected to receive considerable international attention. It had stated that the updated LCDS will show how the agreement is the start of a phased approach to integrate Guyana’s climate services into the global economy where ultimately a value is placed on Guyana’s forests that make them more economically valuable alive than dead. The LCDS will outline how this could happen over the next decade and how Norway’s payments will catalyse the start of that process.
Climate change challenges mooted as ACTO meeting opens
Guyana Chronicle top story, Wednesday 02 December 2009 - http://www.guyanachronicle.com/topstory.html#Anchor-Climat-44851
Climate change challenges mooted as ACTO meeting opens
‘Guyana has joined other ACTO countries in nominating the Amazon as one of the ‘Natural Wonders of the World’ and it has made the final list.’ – Tourism Minister Manniram Prashad
By Priya Nauth
THE Fifth Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organisation (ACTO) Technical Committee Meeting of Tourism Focal Points opened in Guyana yesterday, under the theme ‘Community-based Sustainable Tourism - Striving towards promoting and branding the Amazon region.’
http://www.guyanachronicle.com/acto-meeting-0123.gifhttp://www.guyanachronicle.com/acto-meeting-0118.gif
Composite photo shows participants at yesterday’s opening of the ACTO meeting.
Delegates from seven of the eight member States of ACTO are attending the four-day forum to deliberate on strategic visioning, planning and implementation of sustainable tourism development, for the Amazon as a single geo-destination.
Minister of Tourism, industry and Commerce, Mr. Manniram Prashad welcomed them at Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara.
ACTO, an inter-governmental grouping of eight Amazon Basin countries, comprises Bolivia, Brazil, Columbia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela.
It was formed in 2003 in Brazil, after being founded through the Amazon Cooperation Treaty (ACT) signed in 1978.
Prashad remarked that Guyana is the home of one of the last remaining tracts of pristine tropical rainforest in the world and said this country is pleased and honoured to be hosting the focal points.
He acknowledged the important work and initiatives of ACTO, in creating more awareness and branding of the Amazon region and promoting travel to and within the Amazon.
“The Amazon is the most bio-diverse region in the world occupying seven per cent of the world’s land mass but home to more than 50 per cent of known species on the planet,” Prashad related.
http://www.guyanachronicle.com/acto-meeting-0117.gif
ACTO Coordinator of Tourism, Mr. Donald Sinclair, making remarks during yesterday’s opening of the ACTO meeting at the Guyana International Conference Centre. Seated at head table (at right), is Tourism Minister Manniram Prashad. (Cullen Bess-Nelson photo)
He continued: “The Amazon rainforest is the world’s greatest remaining natural resource, called the lungs of the world. Twenty per cent of the world’s oxygen and fresh water is produced right here in the Amazon.
“We have a mandate to conserve, preserve, protect and promote the Amazon for the future of the world,” Prashad stated.
He disclosed that Guyana has joined other ACTO countries in nominating the Amazon as one of the ‘Natural Wonders of the World’ and it has made the final list.
Encouraging everyone living outside to visit the Amazon to visit, Prashad said each Amazonian country is uniquely endowed with world class tourism attractions.
Experience
“We must work together to create geo-destinations and package the various attractions to give the visitors an experience they will never forget,” he urged.
Prashad noted that the meeting is taking place at a critical time and juncture when “we are confronted with climate change.”
He emphasised that climate change impacts every sector of the society and every sector of society contributes to it and, consequently, many countries have already embarked on the transformation of their entire economies to create low carbon development pathways.
Prashad said such a new development paradigm creates opportunities for sustainable economic growth and tourism, as well.
Noting that Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) is an initiative of President Bharrat Jagdeo, the Minister explained that it aims to expand on economic and social reforms and aid in the fight against climate change.
“At the centre of the strategy is Guyana’s 15 million hectares of pristine rainforest, which has an economic value of US$580M but, if left untouched without affecting national development, can contribute US$40 billion to the global economy each year,” Prashad said.
He said President Jagdeo and Guyana believe that such a compensatory mechanism should be included at the 15th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) in Copenhagen later this month.
Prashad said introducing environmentally responsible measures will produce benefits for ordinary Guyanese and outlined some low carbon economy initiatives that could be expanded to benefit Guyanese, including: eco-tourism, sustainable use of non-timber forests products, agro forestry, agro tourism, improved energy efficiency by businesses and implementation of green practices and solar lights.
“Climate change is not just an environment issue. It is a development issue. We view climate change through the lens of poverty reduction and human development,” he posited.
Prashad said the support of the international community, ACTO and the UN must be guided by a vision of inclusive and sustainable development.
LEAD
“Guyana can lead the way in building a green low carbon economy,” he offered, adding: “I trust that climate change and low carbon development is on the agenda as this Fifth Technical Committee Meeting marks the beginning of our joint work to harness the opportunities of a low carbon economy and reduce the vulnerabilities presented by the real impact of climate change.”
Expressing the wishing for a successful conference as the delegates strive to create more awareness of the Amazon and promote tourism linkages among the eight countries which share it, he exhorted them: “Let us adopt low carbon development strategies; promote and brand a low carbon and commit to reducing our carbon footprint.”
Director of Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), Mr. Indranauth Haralsingh, also extended a warm welcome to the participants and expressed sincere appreciation to all the persons and sponsoring institutions for making significant contributions to make the meeting possible.
“The Amazon region is richly endowed by nature with tropical rainforests, mountains, rivers, amazing biodiversity, spectacular landscapes and scenery coupled with diverse and ancient cultures and cuisines along with friendly and hospitable people,” he reiterated.
Haralsingh said, as close neighbours, the countries face numerous common concerns and challenges, especially in terms of climate change, sustainability and threats to biodiversity, among other developmental challenges.
“It is the mission of ACTO to work cooperatively with Amazonian countries to find common solutions to some of these problems,” he challenged, noting that tourism collaboration, development and promotion offer one such solution.
Haralsingh went on: “The call to realise Guyana’s continental destiny and South-South cooperation has strong positive implications for tourism.”
He maintained that the core Guyana tourism product is, essentially, Amazonian and, therefore, its development agenda should revolve around support for developing and marketing it.
“We are, particularly, proud to be hosting this meeting as a culminating activity for Tourism Awareness Month 2009 and we wish that our deliberations, over the next few days, will be fruitful and chart the way for the Amazon as the number one hotspot for nature and adventure tourism and a low carbon economy and lifestyle,” Haralsingh said.
SHOWCASE
ACTO Coordinator of Tourism, Mr. Donald Sinclair said this meeting, like previous ones, is important for the group and Guyana, because it comes at the end of Tourism Awareness Month and this country is able to use it to showcase the wider Amazon context of tourism.
He said this country is promoting itself as ‘Guyana – the Amazon Adventure’ and it is quite visionary of Minister Prashad and GTA to host the meeting.
Sinclair said their task, over the next few days, is great, because the challenge of developing tourism in the Amazon is as exciting.
“Together, we cooperate to advance the tourism programme for the Amazon because it is the Amazon that brings us here and it is the Amazon that we are working for,” he argued.
Chairman of the Climate Change Unit in Office of the President, Mr. Shyam Nokta, in a presentation on Tourism and Low Carbon Development, acknowledged the important role the Amazon region can play in the climate change fight.
“As you spend the next few days talking about tourism, planning for tourism in this region and looking at the opportunities and the challenges, it is important that we recognise the important role that the Amazon can play in this very important issue of climate change,” he emphasised.
Nokta said: “Clearly our region is working closely on the issue of climate change, how we can work together to deploy our forests as a region but also how we can work together to ensure that we can receive adequate financing to make it an economically worthwhile and rational decision.”
Also in attendance were Director of the GTZ Regional Programme for the Amazon in Brazil, Mr. Horst Steigier, representatives of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG), the Private Sector and other tourism officials.
Each of the eight member countries has appointed two persons on the Technical Committee. The two representing Guyana are Haralsingh and GTA Administrative Manager, Mr. Ohene Koama.
The programme for the visitors includes a visit to community-based tourism resorts, Arrowpoint and Santa Mission.
ACTO’s Permanent Secretariat was established in 2002 and its mission is to promote the integrated and sustainable development of the Amazon region.
The organisation is currently executing its 2004-2012 Strategic Plan, developed with inputs from the countries, international organisations, technical experts, civil society organisations and local communities, to pursue a number of approaches.
This year is designated ‘Destination Amazonian Year 2009’ which is a tourism drive initiated by ACTO, in collaboration with the eight member countries that are signatories to the Amazon Cooperation Treaty.
Climate change challenges mooted as ACTO meeting opens
‘Guyana has joined other ACTO countries in nominating the Amazon as one of the ‘Natural Wonders of the World’ and it has made the final list.’ – Tourism Minister Manniram Prashad
By Priya Nauth
THE Fifth Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organisation (ACTO) Technical Committee Meeting of Tourism Focal Points opened in Guyana yesterday, under the theme ‘Community-based Sustainable Tourism - Striving towards promoting and branding the Amazon region.’
http://www.guyanachronicle.com/acto-meeting-0123.gifhttp://www.guyanachronicle.com/acto-meeting-0118.gif
Composite photo shows participants at yesterday’s opening of the ACTO meeting.
Delegates from seven of the eight member States of ACTO are attending the four-day forum to deliberate on strategic visioning, planning and implementation of sustainable tourism development, for the Amazon as a single geo-destination.
Minister of Tourism, industry and Commerce, Mr. Manniram Prashad welcomed them at Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara.
ACTO, an inter-governmental grouping of eight Amazon Basin countries, comprises Bolivia, Brazil, Columbia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela.
It was formed in 2003 in Brazil, after being founded through the Amazon Cooperation Treaty (ACT) signed in 1978.
Prashad remarked that Guyana is the home of one of the last remaining tracts of pristine tropical rainforest in the world and said this country is pleased and honoured to be hosting the focal points.
He acknowledged the important work and initiatives of ACTO, in creating more awareness and branding of the Amazon region and promoting travel to and within the Amazon.
“The Amazon is the most bio-diverse region in the world occupying seven per cent of the world’s land mass but home to more than 50 per cent of known species on the planet,” Prashad related.
http://www.guyanachronicle.com/acto-meeting-0117.gif
ACTO Coordinator of Tourism, Mr. Donald Sinclair, making remarks during yesterday’s opening of the ACTO meeting at the Guyana International Conference Centre. Seated at head table (at right), is Tourism Minister Manniram Prashad. (Cullen Bess-Nelson photo)
He continued: “The Amazon rainforest is the world’s greatest remaining natural resource, called the lungs of the world. Twenty per cent of the world’s oxygen and fresh water is produced right here in the Amazon.
“We have a mandate to conserve, preserve, protect and promote the Amazon for the future of the world,” Prashad stated.
He disclosed that Guyana has joined other ACTO countries in nominating the Amazon as one of the ‘Natural Wonders of the World’ and it has made the final list.
Encouraging everyone living outside to visit the Amazon to visit, Prashad said each Amazonian country is uniquely endowed with world class tourism attractions.
Experience
“We must work together to create geo-destinations and package the various attractions to give the visitors an experience they will never forget,” he urged.
Prashad noted that the meeting is taking place at a critical time and juncture when “we are confronted with climate change.”
He emphasised that climate change impacts every sector of the society and every sector of society contributes to it and, consequently, many countries have already embarked on the transformation of their entire economies to create low carbon development pathways.
Prashad said such a new development paradigm creates opportunities for sustainable economic growth and tourism, as well.
Noting that Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) is an initiative of President Bharrat Jagdeo, the Minister explained that it aims to expand on economic and social reforms and aid in the fight against climate change.
“At the centre of the strategy is Guyana’s 15 million hectares of pristine rainforest, which has an economic value of US$580M but, if left untouched without affecting national development, can contribute US$40 billion to the global economy each year,” Prashad said.
He said President Jagdeo and Guyana believe that such a compensatory mechanism should be included at the 15th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) in Copenhagen later this month.
Prashad said introducing environmentally responsible measures will produce benefits for ordinary Guyanese and outlined some low carbon economy initiatives that could be expanded to benefit Guyanese, including: eco-tourism, sustainable use of non-timber forests products, agro forestry, agro tourism, improved energy efficiency by businesses and implementation of green practices and solar lights.
“Climate change is not just an environment issue. It is a development issue. We view climate change through the lens of poverty reduction and human development,” he posited.
Prashad said the support of the international community, ACTO and the UN must be guided by a vision of inclusive and sustainable development.
LEAD
“Guyana can lead the way in building a green low carbon economy,” he offered, adding: “I trust that climate change and low carbon development is on the agenda as this Fifth Technical Committee Meeting marks the beginning of our joint work to harness the opportunities of a low carbon economy and reduce the vulnerabilities presented by the real impact of climate change.”
Expressing the wishing for a successful conference as the delegates strive to create more awareness of the Amazon and promote tourism linkages among the eight countries which share it, he exhorted them: “Let us adopt low carbon development strategies; promote and brand a low carbon and commit to reducing our carbon footprint.”
Director of Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), Mr. Indranauth Haralsingh, also extended a warm welcome to the participants and expressed sincere appreciation to all the persons and sponsoring institutions for making significant contributions to make the meeting possible.
“The Amazon region is richly endowed by nature with tropical rainforests, mountains, rivers, amazing biodiversity, spectacular landscapes and scenery coupled with diverse and ancient cultures and cuisines along with friendly and hospitable people,” he reiterated.
Haralsingh said, as close neighbours, the countries face numerous common concerns and challenges, especially in terms of climate change, sustainability and threats to biodiversity, among other developmental challenges.
“It is the mission of ACTO to work cooperatively with Amazonian countries to find common solutions to some of these problems,” he challenged, noting that tourism collaboration, development and promotion offer one such solution.
Haralsingh went on: “The call to realise Guyana’s continental destiny and South-South cooperation has strong positive implications for tourism.”
He maintained that the core Guyana tourism product is, essentially, Amazonian and, therefore, its development agenda should revolve around support for developing and marketing it.
“We are, particularly, proud to be hosting this meeting as a culminating activity for Tourism Awareness Month 2009 and we wish that our deliberations, over the next few days, will be fruitful and chart the way for the Amazon as the number one hotspot for nature and adventure tourism and a low carbon economy and lifestyle,” Haralsingh said.
SHOWCASE
ACTO Coordinator of Tourism, Mr. Donald Sinclair said this meeting, like previous ones, is important for the group and Guyana, because it comes at the end of Tourism Awareness Month and this country is able to use it to showcase the wider Amazon context of tourism.
He said this country is promoting itself as ‘Guyana – the Amazon Adventure’ and it is quite visionary of Minister Prashad and GTA to host the meeting.
Sinclair said their task, over the next few days, is great, because the challenge of developing tourism in the Amazon is as exciting.
“Together, we cooperate to advance the tourism programme for the Amazon because it is the Amazon that brings us here and it is the Amazon that we are working for,” he argued.
Chairman of the Climate Change Unit in Office of the President, Mr. Shyam Nokta, in a presentation on Tourism and Low Carbon Development, acknowledged the important role the Amazon region can play in the climate change fight.
“As you spend the next few days talking about tourism, planning for tourism in this region and looking at the opportunities and the challenges, it is important that we recognise the important role that the Amazon can play in this very important issue of climate change,” he emphasised.
Nokta said: “Clearly our region is working closely on the issue of climate change, how we can work together to deploy our forests as a region but also how we can work together to ensure that we can receive adequate financing to make it an economically worthwhile and rational decision.”
Also in attendance were Director of the GTZ Regional Programme for the Amazon in Brazil, Mr. Horst Steigier, representatives of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG), the Private Sector and other tourism officials.
Each of the eight member countries has appointed two persons on the Technical Committee. The two representing Guyana are Haralsingh and GTA Administrative Manager, Mr. Ohene Koama.
The programme for the visitors includes a visit to community-based tourism resorts, Arrowpoint and Santa Mission.
ACTO’s Permanent Secretariat was established in 2002 and its mission is to promote the integrated and sustainable development of the Amazon region.
The organisation is currently executing its 2004-2012 Strategic Plan, developed with inputs from the countries, international organisations, technical experts, civil society organisations and local communities, to pursue a number of approaches.
This year is designated ‘Destination Amazonian Year 2009’ which is a tourism drive initiated by ACTO, in collaboration with the eight member countries that are signatories to the Amazon Cooperation Treaty.
Guyana builds coalition for Copenhagen
Guyana Chronicle top story, Wednesday 02 December 2009 - "Guyana builds coalition for Copenhagen" - http://www.guyanachronicle.com/topstory.html#Anchor--------62051
GUYANA has been building a coalition with other tropical forest countries for next week’s crucial global climate change summit in Copenhagen, Denmark, President Bharrat Jagdeo has announced in Trinidad and Tobago.
http://www.guyanachronicle.com/Jagdeo-Sankat.gif
Professor Clement Sankat, Pro Vice Chancellor, UWI, honours President Bharrat Jagdeo for his relentless climate change lobby at the UWI’s St. Augustine campus in Trinidad on Monday last. (GINA Chattergoon Jadoopat photo)
Guyana and Papua New-Guinea will be co-hosting an event during the summit and this country has been binding with Suriname, Belize, Gabon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and others in the run-up to Copenhagen, he said during a lecture Monday at the St. Augustine campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI).
Guyana is also a party to the declaration issued by Amazon Basin countries in Manaus, Brazil last week when President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva hosted a summit ahead of the Copenhagen conference.
“We hope that we can influence what takes place in Copenhagen and this is why our model is getting so much publicity around the world”, he said.
Mr. Jagdeo recalled that Britain’s Prince Charles recently spoke about Guyana’s model and said other countries are using it. It’s not the only model because for deforestation… there are different categories of countries”.
In a well-received detailed presentation at the Learning Resource Centre on the campus, he noted that Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) is the only one that has advanced so far.
Guyana, he said, feels it can become a very important part of the abatement solution.
“We have had a long march to get where we are today…to develop the REDD (Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation) concept and to get REDD expanded to REDD Plus (avoiding deforestation, sustainable forestry management, reforestation, aforestation)”, he said.
Mr. Jagdeo noted that REDD Plus has been accepted as part of the United Nations lexicon and there is now significant support from the developed and developing countries for this new concept.
He recalled the offer he made about three years ago to deploy this country’s forests in the cause of climate change and reiterated that to get REDD approved in a global climate change agreement, a national scale model was needed.
“We are the only country that has done this so far. We have a national scale model covering the entire forest”.
He outlined the development and central elements of the LCDS in which forest carbon is a commodity which Guyana wanted to establish as a commodity which could be traded because it has a value to the world.
He stressed that national acceptance of LCDS was “very important for us” and referred to the nationwide three-month consultation on the draft with stakeholders and others.
“We are going out to tender for an internationally replicable Monitoring Reporting and Verification (MRV) system that will use remote sensing devices, satellite imagery to identifying any change of carbon stocks in our forests. With those techniques we will be able to assess whether the country performs in accordance with the agreement”, the President said.
He recalled the signing last month of the memorandum of understanding with Norway which will provide US$250M to support the LCDS over the next five years.
Whether there is financing or not in Copenhagen, Guyana already has an MOU with Norway which Mr. Jagdeo said was built on the work done in the Informal Working Group after the G20 meeting in London in April this year.
“Out of that work that we started, 37 countries have now developed a model which says that for US$5 billion annually over the next five years we can cut deforestation rates by 25 per cent around the world – the largest single climate change abatement action anywhere in the world”, he stated.
“When we get to Copenhagen, we can say we have dealt with all the issues (related to forestry)…through our model…”, the President said.
Senior lecturer in the St. Augustine’s Institute of International Relations, Dr. Mark Kirton, said he was impressed by the LCDS which Guyana is using as its most important model.
On the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting which ended in Trinidad Sunday, Mr. Jagdeo was interviewed by Hardtalk, the BBC flagship news programme on its World Service TV.
After Monday’s lecture, he was also interviewed by CNC 3 TV from Trinidad and Tobago
Professor Clement Sankat, Pro Vice Chancellor and Campus Principal, said President Jagdeo has emerged as one of the Caribbean’s leading statesman – not only speaking on the matters of the environment but also over the years he has been speaking on food and agriculture production and food security for the region.
The President was applauded several times and was commended for his presentation.
He gave a detailed background on the climate change scenario noting that the solution to resolving the problem of cutting greenhouse gas emissions is quite clear – more renewable energy, greater efficiency and cutting deforestation rates around the world are needed.
“If the developed world had tropical forests then they would find quick solutions and all the money to fix it”, he declared.
He noted that rainforest countries are trying to correct the “most important and glaring omission” of forests as part of the abatement solution from the Kyoto Protocol.
Pointing out that deforestation generates about 20 per cent of greenhouse gases he again argued that to leave forests out of the solution would make it almost mathematically impossible to achieve the targets set for 2050.
“We are trying to change that. As the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol comes to an end 2011-2012, the new agreement in Copenhagen must include forests as an abatement solution.”
He said that the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has come belated to the climate change issue “almost like in our usual slow way, we wait until something falls on our head and then we start addressing it…”
He said CARICOM started paying attention to climate change only about a year ago and members still have a vague understanding of “where we go or the enormous task it will take to deal with this problem.”
The President referred to a recent report on the economics of climate change done by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) which does not give figures.
“We need to really get things going”, he suggested, noting that while the rest of the grouping does not have forests, 50 per cent of the land mass of the Caribbean is forest when Guyana, Belize and Suriname are added.
Responding to a question on the issue, he said CARICOM can perhaps develop its own carbon trading system.
“If that’s the case maybe Trinidad could offset some of its emissions by buying forest carbon from other countries and investing in projects like hydro-power and renewable energy in other territories but the price has to be right”, he said.
The President said key elements to make Copenhagen a success include deep emission cuts by the developed world to avoid more dangerous global warming in accordance with the report of the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change.
He noted that the developed world is no where near that target.
Another crucial factor is adequate financing for climate-related activities, among them adaptation for the REDD mechanism and for renewable energy.
“We don’t even have pledges for the US$10 billion per annum for fast start funds, much less the larger sums that will be required”, he said.
For the Caribbean, a global governance infrastructure for the intermediate climate-related fund would be vital – not the old ODA tools for disbursement. Urgent intermediation of funds is required now, not compromising on accountability.
“The Caribbean wants enough resources for adaptation and REDD out of Copenhagen – two areas of our special interest. We have to keep putting the pressure on the developed world and we have to argue for not (only) a political declaration but a legally binding agreement”, he said.
Acknowledging the difficult road ahead, he said, “We may not get that in Copenhagen but at least we should try to get all the principles of what a legally binding agreement must include.”
He said CARICOM is going to Copenhagen with all its demands intact.
“We have a CARICOM declaration which outlines key elements of our negotiating position. We have clarity on the issues that we want to push”, he said. (GINA)
GUYANA has been building a coalition with other tropical forest countries for next week’s crucial global climate change summit in Copenhagen, Denmark, President Bharrat Jagdeo has announced in Trinidad and Tobago.
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Professor Clement Sankat, Pro Vice Chancellor, UWI, honours President Bharrat Jagdeo for his relentless climate change lobby at the UWI’s St. Augustine campus in Trinidad on Monday last. (GINA Chattergoon Jadoopat photo)
Guyana and Papua New-Guinea will be co-hosting an event during the summit and this country has been binding with Suriname, Belize, Gabon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and others in the run-up to Copenhagen, he said during a lecture Monday at the St. Augustine campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI).
Guyana is also a party to the declaration issued by Amazon Basin countries in Manaus, Brazil last week when President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva hosted a summit ahead of the Copenhagen conference.
“We hope that we can influence what takes place in Copenhagen and this is why our model is getting so much publicity around the world”, he said.
Mr. Jagdeo recalled that Britain’s Prince Charles recently spoke about Guyana’s model and said other countries are using it. It’s not the only model because for deforestation… there are different categories of countries”.
In a well-received detailed presentation at the Learning Resource Centre on the campus, he noted that Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) is the only one that has advanced so far.
Guyana, he said, feels it can become a very important part of the abatement solution.
“We have had a long march to get where we are today…to develop the REDD (Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation) concept and to get REDD expanded to REDD Plus (avoiding deforestation, sustainable forestry management, reforestation, aforestation)”, he said.
Mr. Jagdeo noted that REDD Plus has been accepted as part of the United Nations lexicon and there is now significant support from the developed and developing countries for this new concept.
He recalled the offer he made about three years ago to deploy this country’s forests in the cause of climate change and reiterated that to get REDD approved in a global climate change agreement, a national scale model was needed.
“We are the only country that has done this so far. We have a national scale model covering the entire forest”.
He outlined the development and central elements of the LCDS in which forest carbon is a commodity which Guyana wanted to establish as a commodity which could be traded because it has a value to the world.
He stressed that national acceptance of LCDS was “very important for us” and referred to the nationwide three-month consultation on the draft with stakeholders and others.
“We are going out to tender for an internationally replicable Monitoring Reporting and Verification (MRV) system that will use remote sensing devices, satellite imagery to identifying any change of carbon stocks in our forests. With those techniques we will be able to assess whether the country performs in accordance with the agreement”, the President said.
He recalled the signing last month of the memorandum of understanding with Norway which will provide US$250M to support the LCDS over the next five years.
Whether there is financing or not in Copenhagen, Guyana already has an MOU with Norway which Mr. Jagdeo said was built on the work done in the Informal Working Group after the G20 meeting in London in April this year.
“Out of that work that we started, 37 countries have now developed a model which says that for US$5 billion annually over the next five years we can cut deforestation rates by 25 per cent around the world – the largest single climate change abatement action anywhere in the world”, he stated.
“When we get to Copenhagen, we can say we have dealt with all the issues (related to forestry)…through our model…”, the President said.
Senior lecturer in the St. Augustine’s Institute of International Relations, Dr. Mark Kirton, said he was impressed by the LCDS which Guyana is using as its most important model.
On the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting which ended in Trinidad Sunday, Mr. Jagdeo was interviewed by Hardtalk, the BBC flagship news programme on its World Service TV.
After Monday’s lecture, he was also interviewed by CNC 3 TV from Trinidad and Tobago
Professor Clement Sankat, Pro Vice Chancellor and Campus Principal, said President Jagdeo has emerged as one of the Caribbean’s leading statesman – not only speaking on the matters of the environment but also over the years he has been speaking on food and agriculture production and food security for the region.
The President was applauded several times and was commended for his presentation.
He gave a detailed background on the climate change scenario noting that the solution to resolving the problem of cutting greenhouse gas emissions is quite clear – more renewable energy, greater efficiency and cutting deforestation rates around the world are needed.
“If the developed world had tropical forests then they would find quick solutions and all the money to fix it”, he declared.
He noted that rainforest countries are trying to correct the “most important and glaring omission” of forests as part of the abatement solution from the Kyoto Protocol.
Pointing out that deforestation generates about 20 per cent of greenhouse gases he again argued that to leave forests out of the solution would make it almost mathematically impossible to achieve the targets set for 2050.
“We are trying to change that. As the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol comes to an end 2011-2012, the new agreement in Copenhagen must include forests as an abatement solution.”
He said that the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has come belated to the climate change issue “almost like in our usual slow way, we wait until something falls on our head and then we start addressing it…”
He said CARICOM started paying attention to climate change only about a year ago and members still have a vague understanding of “where we go or the enormous task it will take to deal with this problem.”
The President referred to a recent report on the economics of climate change done by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) which does not give figures.
“We need to really get things going”, he suggested, noting that while the rest of the grouping does not have forests, 50 per cent of the land mass of the Caribbean is forest when Guyana, Belize and Suriname are added.
Responding to a question on the issue, he said CARICOM can perhaps develop its own carbon trading system.
“If that’s the case maybe Trinidad could offset some of its emissions by buying forest carbon from other countries and investing in projects like hydro-power and renewable energy in other territories but the price has to be right”, he said.
The President said key elements to make Copenhagen a success include deep emission cuts by the developed world to avoid more dangerous global warming in accordance with the report of the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change.
He noted that the developed world is no where near that target.
Another crucial factor is adequate financing for climate-related activities, among them adaptation for the REDD mechanism and for renewable energy.
“We don’t even have pledges for the US$10 billion per annum for fast start funds, much less the larger sums that will be required”, he said.
For the Caribbean, a global governance infrastructure for the intermediate climate-related fund would be vital – not the old ODA tools for disbursement. Urgent intermediation of funds is required now, not compromising on accountability.
“The Caribbean wants enough resources for adaptation and REDD out of Copenhagen – two areas of our special interest. We have to keep putting the pressure on the developed world and we have to argue for not (only) a political declaration but a legally binding agreement”, he said.
Acknowledging the difficult road ahead, he said, “We may not get that in Copenhagen but at least we should try to get all the principles of what a legally binding agreement must include.”
He said CARICOM is going to Copenhagen with all its demands intact.
“We have a CARICOM declaration which outlines key elements of our negotiating position. We have clarity on the issues that we want to push”, he said. (GINA)
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