Education is key in climate change fight – British high commissioner

 

More face-to-face programmes educating ordinary people about climate change are necessary worldwide, since it is believed that the phenomenon is not appreciated by the majority of people in the world, officials say.

“Changes are happening and will continue to happen in the future, so it is better if people understand the reasons behind it and (amend) their behaviour so that they can make a contribution to what we all need to do,” British High Commissioner (ag) Simon Bond said, giving his input as to how organisations and other bodies can raise awareness.

Speaking in relation to Guyana, Bond said that programmes that encourage face-to-face explanations about climate change are required throughout the country, and not just in hinterland communities; and he expressed contentment that the Guyana government has undertaken some activities in that area. However, he stated that there is always room for more programmes. While admitting that the UK government – which has an active climate change programme in Guyana and around the world – does not have any such specific programmes in mind, Bond assured that his government is always willing to listen to ideas and suggestions that may arise in this area.

He stated that the awareness aspect of climate change is fundamental to everyone, and is not just about government policies. He further outlined several initiatives that the UK has been involved in to ensure that climate change is not forgotten in Guyana. “We have been working with Conservation International to do some work related to the school curriculum. Some of these core climate change and biodiversity principles can get a place on the school curriculum so teens and youth can begin to get that knowledge and hopefully apply it as they grow up,” he said. He also mentioned another initiative with Iwokrama, where funding was provided by the UK to provide in simplified language information on climate change to hinterland communities.

“Climate change is a global issue. We all have a responsibility to do what we can. The UK is a major economy and a major emitter, that is why we are trying very much to face up to our responsibility,” he said. The UK contributes approximately two percent of global emissions, and Bond said that the UK is trying to reduce that figure as much as possible.

President Bharrat Jagdeo had expressed concern about larger economies failing to live up to their commitments to provide funding to smaller countries to support the preservation of their forests. Bond acknowledged these comments, but stated that the UK has been playing its part in this regard. “We recently committed to major international funding on climate change- around £3 billion – which is about US$4.5 billion over the next four years, half of which will be used for ‘fast off’ funding. Of that amount, £300 million is for forestry-related activities. Forests play a very important part in our calculations,” he said.

Bond then alluded to the decisions made in Cancun regarding financing, stating that while the decisions could have been better, those that were made were good nonetheless. “Part of that agreement in Cancun was to make solid some of the commitments made preciously on financing, because it is not just about the amount of money developed countries are committing, but the implementation of that, and that is an issue that President Jagdeo has obviously raised in the past as well,” he said.