Dear Editor,
The twin phenomena of Global Warming and Climate Change offer a unique opportunity for a developing country like Guyana to lead the way in terms of different, climate- friendly approaches to spatial and urban development.
Guyana has the space, raw material and other resources to create the Third World’s first truly green city. It does not have to be an ultra high – tech city but one that uses technology appropriate to Guyana’s natural environment and its natural climatic advantage. Green City can be powered by renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, bio-fuel and the more eco-friendly hydroelectricity systems. It would be best to construct this green city well away from the coastal belt and further inland south of the Soesdyke/Linden highway. Such an inland location may make wave energy impractical and expensive from a transmission point of view. Solar energy may be the least expensive option as it uses available sunlight to split electrons from atoms thus generating electricity. Solar cells also known as photovoltaic or PV systems can be installed in “arrays” consisting of 400 or more such cells. With a 10-20 PV array and a sunny climate, it is possible to power an entire household.
The world’s largest PV facility, at eleven megawatts of capacity, was built last year in southern Portugal sprawling over 150 acres. We have the virgin land aplenty and an area like the flat, empty lands along the Soesdyke/Linden highway or between Linden and Ituni in Region 10 may be ideal. Also, the 425 km Guyana/Brazil highway may give rise to at least one new town possibly at Rockstone, Arisaru Mountain (40 mile), Mabura Hill, Kurupukari, or Good Hope. Construction of this new town can be along the lines of Eco- City. Guyana should appeal to the world’s mainstream climate scientists, leading eco-scientists, regional experts and creative financiers to combine their talents and energy in creating the first eco – city in this hemisphere Eco- City, Guyana.
Apart from eco- friendly energy systems at household and municipal level (street lights etc), Eco- Town should have a public transport system that uses ethanol. As far as personal transport is concerned the use of bicycles will be encouraged and only hybrid and fuel-efficient cars should be allowed on the road system. Annual licence fees on ordinary high-polluting vehicles should be substantial to encourage the use of fuel-efficient alternatives before a total ban on the use of polluters.
Eco- Town will feed its residents on organic foods grown nearby so as to reduce transport costs and pollution. The cultivation of organic foods reduces the need for farming techniques that rely on petrochemicals and results in lower emissions per unit of food. Markets and supermarkets will be encouraged to stock and sell only local, low – carbon foods. Household and industrial waste will be reduced, reused or recycled.
Eco- Town can be designed and built as a veritable garden city with leafy trees and flowering plants in all its streets and boulevards, parks and open spaces. It would be a major eco- tourist site. Parts of the Algarve in Portugal, like Vilamoura, were designed and built along these garden city lines and serve as an example of what can be achieved with the embrace of the natural environment, vision and imagination.
Creative and energetic international financiers should be able to get some carbon profligate multinationals to view Eco- town, Guyana as a global environment project and as a “carbon offsetting” mechanism or investment to which they contribute financially, materially, and in terms of research and development expertise.
I see here an opportunity for Guyana to be a trail-blazer and a template for other eco- towns worldwide.
Yours faithfully,
F. Hamley Case
