– Calls for climate issues to be fully integrated into development planning
President Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday participated in a high level climate change dialogue event hosted by the President of the World Bank in Turkey to coincide with the 2009 annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank group.

The dialogue event, held under a series of events titled the Bali Dialogue, brought together senior policymakers from around the world to discuss issues related to climate finance and the role of multilateral development banks. Among these present were Mr. Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat, and representatives of all of the major regional development banks.

President Jagdeo updated those present on Guyana’s low carbon development strategy, and on the country’s partnership with the Government of Norway. He urged increased support for small states with tight fiscal space and which have to accommodate high levels of spending to adapt to climate change. He also argued for better integration of climate change issues into development planning processes.

The Bali Dialogue Series is held against the background of a high-level event held by senior policymakers on climate change in Bali on December 10 and 11, 2007, which concluded that it is important to integrate climate change issues into development planning and economic policies in a variety of future discussions at ministerial level.

The World Bank subsequently launched an initiative, together with the UNFCCC COP Troika of Indonesia, Poland, and Denmark, to further explore the development aspects of the Bali meeting and to provide leaders and policymakers on development and finance with an opportunity to discuss and address key issues of climate change mitigation and adaptation for low-income developing countries in an informal setting.

This effort will support, inform, and complement – without duplicating – the UNFCCC process, as well as supplement discussions among policymakers on climate change, such as those in connection with the COP meetings, and within the G-8 and G-20 country groups with respect to low-income developing countries.

President Jagdeo was accompanied at the meeting by Minister of Finance Dr Ashni Singh, who is currently also participating in the 2009 annual IMF and World Bank Boards of Governors meetings. (GINA)