PM Hinds to move motion on LCDS today
PRIME Minister Samuel Hinds will today, in the National Assembly, move a motion seeking unanimous support in the House for the Guyana model of a low carbon development pathway.

He will request that Members of Parliament (MPs) recognise local efforts to build national consensus and mobilise support from the international community for climate change action.

The measure will also solicit approval of the low carbon development pathway model tabled in the House as the revised Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).

Mr. Hinds also wants the MPs to:
* endorse Guyana’s commitment to a new agreement at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the parties in Copenhagen, which will bind countries to carbon reductions and release financial support to mitigate the repercussions of climate change on vulnerable countries and

* lend unequivocal support to the Guyana delegation at the UNFCCC Conference to lobby for a post 2012 agreement on climate change in the interest of the world and this country.

The motion states that scientific evidence of high concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are rising exponentially, leading to alarming levels of global warming and related sea level rise, is no longer a matter of dispute.

The wording says the causes of these phenomena are also now accepted at all international fora and underscore the need for global concerted action to reverse these dangerous planet and life threatening phenomena.

The documentation points out, too, that the Commonwealth Heads of Government approved the Port of Spain Consensus and Declaration on Climate Change, which is being taken to the UNFCCC Conference in Copenhagen.

AGREEMENT
That agreement seeks to further efforts to reach an agreement that will require commitments to deep cuts in emissions by the main contributors to carbon emissions and financial and technical support to the most vulnerable nations of the world in the interim.

“Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy demonstrates how rainforest countries can use their rainforest to mitigate climate change and at the same time use it as the basis for a financial flow to finance a low carbon development path, with adaptation, mitigation and technology transfer key elements,” the motion underlines.

It states that Guyana’s innovative low carbon development path was scrutinised through a consultative process which involved more than 144 communities, particularly those occupied by Amerindians, as well as representatives of various sectors, groups including forestry, mining, women, youth, academic and labour.

This process was managed and coordinated by a broad-based multi-sectoral committee, comprising of the National Toushaos Council, Amerindian non-governmental organisations, forestry and mining groups, the Private Sector, organised labour and international monitors under the chairmanship of President Bharrat Jagdeo.

“The international community has applauded Guyana for its consultation process and efforts to pursue a low carbon development pathway with examples being the World Bank Forest Carbon Partnership Facility and the unique Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Norway,” the motion notes.