PRESIDENT JAGDEO STRESSES URGENT ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE

Guyana Chronicle top story, Sunday 25 November 2007

PRESIDENT JAGDEO STRESSES URGENT ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE

International Attention Focuses on Guyana's Initiative, as President
Emphasises that National Sovereignty and Control over the Rainforest
will be
Protected
President Bharrat Jagdeo has called on Heads of Government and global
business leaders to recognise that the global threat from climate change
requires sustained attention from the world's most senior political and
corporate decision-makers. He also emphasised that developing countries
must
ensure that their voices are heard at the upcoming negotiations on a
successor agreement to the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change, which will
take
place in Bali, Indonesia in December.
Addressing Heads of Government, about 500 business leaders and
government
officials in Kampala, Uganda, the President emphasised the need for
solutions to provide incentives for avoiding deforestation to be placed
at
the heart of a comprehensive agreement on climate change. Tropical
deforestation causes about 18% of global emissions of greenhouse gases -
about the same as India and China combined, or the combined total of the
entire transport sector, including aviation.
He told the audience of Guyana's willingness to identify mechanisms
whereby
the country's rainforest, which is the size of England, can be deployed
in
the global battle against climate change. The President emphasised that
rainforest countries could not be expected to sacrifice their economic
development in order to combat climate change on behalf of the world.
However, he said that he believed that ways could be found to balance
sustainable forestry management practices with ground-breaking
initiatives
to support the global battle against climate change.
President Jagdeo was addressing the closing session of the Commonwealth
Business Forum, which took place immediately before the start of the
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. The Business Forum brought
together leaders to discuss issues which impact on the competitiveness
of
Commonwealth countries and their ability to attract investment and
support
economic growth.
Speaking afterwards, the President emphasised that Guyana's offer will
not
involve the ceding of sovereignty over Guyana's territory. He said that
the
identification of the specific mechanisms for deploying the rainforest
will
take time, and that all ideas will be considered, whether proposed by
domestic or international stakeholders. However, he indicated his
expectation that the most sustainable long-term solution will involve
the
engagement of the global capital markets. The President said that a
market-based approach is more likely to devise long-term workable
solutions.
According to the President, these solutions will not involve the
termination
of economic activities within the forest - these will continue to be
supported provided that they are carried out in a manner which is
compatible
with sustainable forestry management practices.
His climate change initiative that he presented at the Commonwealth
Business
Forum was the same climate change initiative that he first unveiled in
his
speech at the Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Finance Ministers'
Meeting in Georgetown in October 2007; and which generated considerable
media attention.
The President's announcement of his willingness to discuss how Guyana's
rainforest can be deployed in the service of the world's battle against
climate change was the front-page story in the prestigious London-based
Independent newspaper, and received extensive coverage on Sky News and
the
BBC. The President's offer was described by the Independent as "a
groundbreaking step in the battle against climate change."
Leading climate change activists have also come out in support, with
Hylton
Murray, the head of the London-based Rainforest Concern saying "In the
absence of an international agreement, an early action by enlightened
leaders should be greatly welcomed. Business as usual is not going to
work."
Murray, who is working to bring funding into developing carbon markets,
also
said "It is insanity that a single service company, Google, has a market
value of $200 billion, while all the services of all the world's great
forests are valued at nothing."
Quoted in the Independent, President Jagdeo said that he "was looking
for a
partner to sit across the table with" to work out the precise terms of
any
deal - "we are a country with the political will and a large tract of a
standing forest. I'm not a mercenary, this is not blackmail and I
realise
there's no such thing as a free lunch..." However, he emphasised that
"We
can deploy the forest against global warming and ... it wouldn't have to
stymie development in Guyana."