IN DECEMBER 2012, Guyana was approved to receive an additional US$45 million from the Government of Norway for its climate services in maintaining extremely low levels of deforestation while advancing the nation’s landmark Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).

This brought all three contributions from the Norway-Guyana climate and forest partnership to a total of US$115 million since the programme was announced in 2009. The Guyana-Norway partnership represents the leading edge of efforts to protect forests while also supporting developing countries by offering economically attractive alternatives to deforestation and forest degradation. It is specifically designed to serve as a model for how countries can work together to create low-carbon economic growth, while contributing significant value to the health of the global environment.

GRIF Projects moved to Implementation
At the National Toshaos Conference in August 2012, a project to establish an Amerindian Development Fund (ADF) was launched. The project, to the tune of US$6 million, represented the first LCDS project to benefit from the Norway funds, paving the way for the immediate initiation of 27 or 15% of the 180 Community Development Plans prepared by residents of the various communities and approved at their village general meetings. Projects from the CDPs which are set to receive funding in this initiation phase include initiatives in areas such as agriculture, village infrastructure, tourism, manufacturing, village business enterprise, and transportation. In 2012, a second LCDS Project to the tune of USS$7 million and to provide institutional support to the Guyana Forestry Commission, Office of Climate Change and the Project Management Office also commenced implementation.

Guyana completed its 2nd national report to the UNFCCC
Guyana signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on the 13th June 1992, and ratified the UNFCCC on 29th August 1994. This Second National Communication (SNC) Report is a culmination of several years of work under the Second National Communication Project. The Report provided an update on the progress Guyana has made in addressing climate change and in meeting its obligations to the UNFCCC over the last decade.

Guyana’s LCDS featured at Rio+20 Conference
Guyana’s LCDS was featured as a working model of green growth at the RIO+20 United Nations Sustainable Development Conference held in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Guyana and Norway convened a side event to showcase key aspects of the partnership and the experience to date. The Rio+20 Summit attracted more than 40,000 people, including Heads of State and government and representatives from non-governmental organisations and the private sector.
Guyana continued to advocate on climate issues, and in particular REDD Plus, in the UNFCCC negotiations. In addition, Guyana played a leading role within the Coalition of Rainforest Nations and the International REDD Plus Partnership.

Key Focus for 2013
In 2013, efforts will continue in the implementation of the LCDS with additional LCDS projects and stakeholder awareness and engagement at all levels. Work is already under way towards a 4th payment under the Guyana-Norway partnership.
Guyana, having successfully completed its Second National Communications, will commence work on its Third National Communications to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Guyana is one of few countries that have advanced its reporting to the UNFCCC.
Work will continue on international advocacy at the level of the UNFCCC to work towards a global climate agreement, while at the same time to further advance bilateral and multi-lateral initiatives to share lessons learnt from the LCDS and build consensus among like-minded countries.