Those familiar with the reputation and international outreach programmes of Teri University in New Delhi, India, would better appreciate the honour of an Honorary Doctorate it conferred last week on former President of Guyana, Bharrat Jagdeo.
The blurb on its global reach explains that the university’s academic offerings lend “ a green tint to students’ vision, helping them to become agents of change wherever they go….It has established partnerships with varsities and institutes across the world for collaborative research and academic support…”
Conferring the honorary Doctorate of Philosophy on the former Guyana Head of State of a dozen years was the university’s distinguished Chancellor, Dr R.K Pachauri, a Nobel Prize recipient and Chairman of the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change.
The former President, who had gained international prominence for his visionary and devoted commitment to understanding the consequences of climate change, was hailed by Dr Pachuari as being among “the very few Heads of Government of the world who understand the scientific, economic and social dimensions of climate change…”
It has been noted that two other recipients of Honorary Doctorates from Teri University at the February 1 ceremony, along with the ex-President, were Eric Solheim, Norway’s Minister of the Environment, and Dr Elinor Ostrom, Nobel Prize recipient and Distinguished Professor at Indiana University, USA.
The foresight and  courage with which Jagdeo pursued policies and programmes on the consequences of climate change were previously recognised when he was also awarded Honorary Doctorates by the People’s University of Russia in 2010 and from the D Y Patil University of Mumbai, India, last year.
The energy and skills he brought to the climate change phenomenon at regional and international fora had contributed to his securing also of a ‘Champion of the Earth’ award from the United Nations Environment Programme.
Of course, as Guyanese across the political divide are fully aware, it was Jagdeo’s commitment to battle the consequences of climate change that resulted in a shared vision by Norway to make its historic US$250 million investment for ecosystems services that involve preservation of most of Guyana’s estimated 18 million hectares of forest.
Not even the worse petty opponents and critics of the Jagdeo Presidency over a dozen years would want to overlook the high esteem in which he is held internationally for his outstanding contributions and place of honour earned in the ongoing struggle against the climate change phenomenon.
The honorary doctorates from reputable institutions and  agencies are most encouraging for Guyana and Guyanese. The cheers are indeed well deserved for our own ‘Climate Change President’.