‘It’s time you put your money where your mouth is’

PRESIDENT Donald Ramotar yesterday urged world leaders at the United Nations Climate Summit’s Thematic Discussions on Climate Science to stop paying lip service when it comes to the issue of lowering carbon emissions and providing financing for climate change adaptation and mitigation.In closing remarks, the Guyanese Head of State, who co-chaired the discussions along with Mongolia’s President, Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj, urged that the entire world, and not just some countries, take Climate Change seriously.

“The developed countries, who have been using most of the world’s resources anyhow, and who have been maybe the main polluters, have promised since 1970 to put 0.7% of their GDP towards assisting and fighting and reversing this climate change. It’s time they put their money where their mouth is,” he said to loud applause from the audience.

The President also called for closer partnership and collaboration among countries of the world in tackling the issue of Climate Change. He said science has already identified many solutions to the issue of Climate Change, but what is most needed now is commitment, political will, working together in making this a reality, and for us to make a contribution to our planet and to fulfill our responsibility to future generations.

President Ramotar also spoke to the imminent challenges Climate Change poses to the world, and the need for all hands to be on deck to tackle the issue.

“Climate Change is a reality, and it has been affecting many countries already, as we have heard here. In my own country,” he said, “it had a big effect on our economy. Up to the beginning of this Century, we had 120 days to do preparatory works in the sugar-cane industry. As of today, I am told that it is between 75 and 80 days only that we have had over the last five years or so, which shows the impact it has had on our economy and the pressure it puts on small countries like ours (that are) trying to industrialize.”

He, however, said that science and technology have been extremely important in pointing out these kinds of challenges, but he noted that the full benefits of science can only be realised by a combination of natural and social scientists as well as policy makers.

He also spoke of Guyana’s contribution that it has and continues to make in the global climate change fight.
“Guyana has 85% of the country in pristine forest, and we understand how important it is. One of my colleagues talked about replanting the forest; I would say the big task is maintaining what we do have left in our society at this point in time, and here I think we can make a contribution,” he added.

President Ramotar also spoke of the Guyana/Norway agreement.