President Jagdeo’s message for World Environment Day 2010
On June 5 each year, we observe World Environment Day. The observances allow us to focus on themes that are timely, and in the context of today’s global challenges, require urgent and concerted global action. This year is no exception. World Environment Day 2010 is being observed under the theme: Many Species, One Planet, One Future.
Coming in this the International Year of Biodiversity, this year’s theme commits us to use the gifts which nature has endowed us for the betterment of our people and for the common good of all humanity.
This commitment is at the heart of Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy. Our biodiversity remains a source of potential wealth but in deploying these resources we are also mindful of the need to contribute to addressing the challenges of climate change.
The reduction of greenhouse gases is critical to the survival of the species. This reduction is now a global imperative since without such action the world faces environmental extinction. This is why collective and responsible global action is needed to bring about the desired cuts. Through reduced and avoided deforestation, we can make a substantial effort to reducing emissions. However, the absence at the international level of an agreement to achieve and finance the desired cuts stands as a major obstacle towards meaningful progress.
On this World Environment Day, I wish to remind the leadership of the international community that time is not on our side. The response to the food, energy and financial crisis indicate that there exists the capacity to act decisively and to intervene successfully to alleviate global threats. We can do the same in respect to climate change. There is an urgent need for renewed global talks on implementing the solutions to the climate change crisis. We need to return to the negotiating table to hammer out a deal that would demonstrate our common commitment and responsibility to save our planet. Unless we act now, we run the risk of acting too late.