head Shyam Nokta
As part of Guyana’s international obligations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the country is expected to submit its third national communication document. In light of this, the Office of Climate Change hosted a stakeholder consultation for preparation of the document on Tuesday at the Guyana International Conference Centre (GICC).
Addressing stakeholders at the forum, Office of Climate Change head Shyam Nokta thanked the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) for their support in helping Guyana to satisfy its obligations.
Since signing onto the UNFCCC in 1992, Guyana submitted its national communication plan in 2002 and 2012.
He noted that the document presents an opportunity for Guyana to outline national steps taken to address climate change.
“This third national communication process is happening at a time when climate change is being underscored as the most important global issue that we are facing today… climate change is like a runaway train and right now this train is only gaining momentum and even if it reduces speed, we are still heading for catastrophe,” Nokta said.
Under the country’s partnership with Norway, Guyana is implementing the second largest interim REDD+ mechanism, and has successfully recorded three consecutive years of good performance, for which it received funds.
Carbon footprint
As such, the audit for the fourth payment has already been completed.
UN Resident Representative Khadija Musa applauded Guyana for its success in reducing carbon through the preservation of its forests.
The national communication documents provide a general status of the key aspects related to climate change in Guyana such as national circumstances, national greenhouse gas inventories, and programmes containing measures to mitigate climate change, among others.
At the recently-concluded UN General Assembly, a call was made by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to convene a special summit in 2014 with the aim of stimulating greater action on climate change issues.
