GUYANA, on Friday, deposited its instrument of ratification of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, becoming the 17th country to do so.Ambassador George Talbot, Permanent Representative of Guyana to the United Nations, presented the instrument of ratification to Mr. Santiago Villalpando, Chief of the Treaty Section of the Office of Legal Affairs, in a simple ceremony at the United Nations.

The Paris Agreement, which was signed by a record 175 countries when it was opened for signature on 22 April 2016, will come into force thirty days after at least fifty-five parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change – accounting for at least fifty-five per cent of global emissions – deposit their instruments of ratification.

The Paris Agreement has been hailed as providing a historic opportunity for the global community to respond to the challenge of climate change in an appropriate manner. Efforts to combat climate change and its impacts are of particular importance for low-lying coastal developing states like Guyana.

The early ratification of the Paris Agreement is consistent with the stated commitment of the Government of Guyana to strong action towards the mitigation of, and adaptation to, climate change.

In keeping with its pursuit of a low carbon and green growth trajectory of sustainable development, Guyana’s contribution will be especially focused on the preservation and sustainable management of its forests, and increased reliance on renewable sources of energy.

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs)