The current climate crisis requires immediate action in order to avoid a global disaster and this is especially critical for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and low-lying coastal states like Guyana, whose very survival is at stake, Attorney-General Anil Nandlall has said.
Nandlall made the case to the 144th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly, which took place in Bali, Indonesia, from March 20 to 24 under the theme – “Getting to Zero: Mobilising Parliaments to Act on Climate Action.”
According to Nandlall, “The climate crisis has issued us an ultimatum: either we take immediate steps and drastic action or subject ourselves to an infernal global disaster. Indifference and inaction equal nothing short of destruction. Already, we’re far behind in limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The coming decade therefore must be the decade of decisive action. Climate change affects us all – rich, poor, developed and developing states – but its effects are more severe on the poorest and most vulnerable – especially SIDS and low-lying coastal states. For us, it is a question of survival.”
In order to mitigate against the negative effects of climate change, the Attorney-General proposed “immediate” action on three fronts. Firstly, all countries must set more ambitious goals to reduce emissions and honour them to the letter. All countries, he noted, have an obligation to act but the world’s foremost polluters have a “greater duty” to institute steeper emission cuts. Secondly, the pledge of US$100 billion per annum made one decade ago, to support climate action must be met. “Dishonoured pledges are recipe for disaster.” And thirdly, since forests constitute a powerful arsenal in the fight against climate change, forest rich countries must be provided with the incentives necessary to keep their forests intact and reduce deforestation and forest degradation. Nandlall pointed out that since deforestation contributes 16% to annual global emissions and in recognition of the ecosystem and climate services provided by forests, it is “imperative that we finalise the rules for carbon markets and REDD+ so as to properly value tropical forests and the climate services which they provide.”
The Attorney General turned his attention to Guyana and informed his audience that the country by far remains a carbon sink by a significant margin where the 18 million hectares of largely intact forests sequesters approximately 154 metric tonnes of CO2 annually. These forests provide this important ecosystem function as one of nine countries of the Amazon. Guyana, he added, also has some of the highest forest cover on the earth along with one of the lowest deforestation rates. He continued by stating that the country is also part of the Guiana Shield, which stores about a fifth of the world’s fresh water and about 18% of the world’s tropical carbon. It also has extremely high levels of biodiversity and endemism – with about 4% of all known animal species and even more bird species.
Thus, Nandlall pointed out, Guyana is already playing its part in addressing the climate crisis and will continue to do so. He then highlighted the commitments the country would make as part of its contribution:
Maintenance of the nation’s forests – almost the size of England and Scotland combined – storing 20 gigatonnes of carbon – a global asset.
Work with local communities in conserving, protecting and sustainably managing the forests, biodiversity and freshwater supplies.
Decouple economic growth and emissions through a progressively cleaner energy mix with the aim of reducing carbon emissions by 70% by the year 2030.
Invest in low-carbon opportunities for jobs, ecosystem services, and social inclusion through an expanded Low Carbon Development Strategy.
Nandlall assured that Guyana’s government and Parliament will continue to aggressively enact laws and regulations, promulgate and implement policies on climate change and promote low carbon development in every area of national life.
And in closing he iterated, “The time for talk is over. The time for action is now. It is but a question of survival. Act now or continue on the road to definite perdition!”
