A timely warning

Continued worldwide destruction of rain forests that form a cooling band around the earth’s equator is recognised as one of the main causes of climate change. And there is increasing global recognition and acceptance of the fact that protecting forests is essential to the fight against climate change, hence there is compelling reason for nations to invest more in protecting the important natural resource of rainforests.

According to a UN report, forests are under threat, decreasing by 5.4 million hectares every year, mainly to agriculture. The report, ‘Forests in a Green Economy: A Synthesis,’ finds that an additional US$40 billion spent each year in the forestry sector – or just 0.034 per cent of global gross domestic product (GDP) – could result in substantial environmental improvements. Investments in forests can offset the ill-effects of climate change, create livelihoods, and conserve bio-diversity. Research has shown that forests are central to global food security and economic development.

A large percentage (almost 80 per cent) of Guyana’s territory is covered with rainforest, and President Bharrat Jagdeo has said that, if we can find a way to use this asset to combat climate change without slowing down our national development or compromising our people’s sovereignty over the forests, we would be able to play a part at the global level to fight the negative effects of climate change. Seen as a global leader on climate change issues, Mr Jagdeo has stated, time and again, that there is no solution to climate change without action on forestry, and the policy makers of Guyana understand this and are generally committed to helping in this regard.

Last week, heads of state and ministers from countries in the Amazon, Congo and Borneo-Mekong basins signed a declaration recognising the need to protect their forests in the fight against climate change, even though they stopped short of agreeing on a formal structure for cooperation. The summit focused on how countries could access an estimated US$4 billion pledged by richer countries to help tackle climate change through the United Nations REDD+ scheme, which aims to create financial value for carbon stored in forests.

It should be mentioned that the Congo, Amazon and Borneo-Mekong basins make up 80 per cent of the world’s equatorial forests, and are home to two-thirds of the world’s land-based biodiversity, and 300 million people, many of whom rely on the forests to survive. Thus halting deforestation in the three regions, which account for more than 40 per cent of the world’s forest-held carbon, is seen as crucial in ongoing efforts to deal with climate change issues.

The effects of climate change are well known, and space would not be taken up in this article to list them, as more recent events worldwide, including extreme flooding and droughts, provide more than enough evidence to show that urgent action is needed if the world is to minimise the damages of such effects on our populations.

In Guyana, our low-lying coastland and its entire infrastructure, settlements and agriculture stand to be destroyed by rises in sea level and extreme weather events if global warming continues at the rate at which it is presently going. It is also well known that our capital city, Georgetown, is vulnerable since it is below sea level, and we are likely to be one of the first to be affected.

In essence, climate change is much more than an environmental issue, and must be transformed from being seen as one. It has serious implications for nations moving forward, especially developing countries such as Guyana, in terms of addressing issues such as poverty, education, health care, and improving other social services for citizens.

Guyana recognises that time for action is now, and according to President Jagdeo, “combating climate change is no longer just a campaign; it needs to become a programme for meaningful action by all.” It is therefore unfortunate that some countries have lost interest in the ongoing campaign against climate change, and are not living up to their commitments, especially as those relate to funding issues. In this regard, the warning given by Mr Jagdeo that poorer nations could abandon attempts to conserve their natural resources if funding issues are not resolved is perhaps both relevant and timely.