Accrediting Australia’s new non-resident High Commissioner to Guyana yesterday, President David Granger stressed the need for immediate and decisive global responses to protect the environment and humanity.
Granger, performing the functions of a caretaker President, cited the raging forest fires that have gripped Australia and those that recently ravaged parts of Brazil’s Amazon forest. Granger also pointed out that Guyana is a low-lying coastal state threatened by global warming and rising sea levels.
“Climate change threatens human habitation everywhere and our global efforts must be accelerated to mitigate its impact…These adverse and extreme environmental events highlight the need for immediate and decisive global responses to protect the environment and humanity”, Granger told Bruce Lendon, the new high commissioner. Australia has often been criticised for historically not taking a stronger position on the need to battle climate change.
Noting that the two countries established diplomatic ties on May 14th, 1973. Granger said that Guyana was appreciative of the support it has received from Australia, particularly through the:
* Community and Economic Project: Empowering Indigenous Communities for Sustainable Development in Guyana; and
* The Direct Aid Program of Australia which provided critical assistance in improving water, sanitation and health in indigenous communities.
Granger said that this assistance continues to provide food security to over 36,000 Venezuelan migrants who have entered Guyana.
Granger added: “We have been deeply saddened, and I express sincere condolences on behalf of the Government and people of Guyana, for the loss of lives and destruction caused by continued bushfires in Southeast Australia.
“Climate change threatens human habitation everywhere and our global efforts must be accelerated to mitigate its impact”.
