GUYANA is one step closer to finalising its draft National Climate Change Policy and Action Plan.

On Wednesday, the Ministry of the Presidency’s Office of Climate Change (OCC) hosted its fourth round of consultation, this time, to validate the draft policy and action plan crafted by Trinidadian Consultant, Dr. Kalim Shah. Consultation on the National Climate Change Policy and Action Plan began last October with key stakeholders. Experts were consulted for two months starting from November 1, 2018. A third round of consultation was executed in January, 2019 and based on the information gathered Dr. Shah prepared a draft National Climate Change Policy and Action Plan, which was reviewed by the OCC.

The draft policy integrates the socio-economic and environmental challenges of climate change into national sustainable development planning that generates strategic actions at all levels for adaptation, mitigation and resilience.

Guyana is aiming to reduce climate-related loss and damage across all productive sectors; promote community development; reduce poverty, loss of livelihoods and food security; and promote a clean and healthy environment for all, in addition to addressing other critical areas.

Head of OCC, Janelle Christian said the crafting of the National Climate Change Policy and Action Plan forms part of the country’s push to advance its national climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts.

Christian said Climate Change is real and swift actions are needed to reduce global warming, which is becoming more and more evident across the globe. “Changes are already being experienced in the Caribbean. The region is experiencing hotter days and nights. More intense rainfall as well as more and longer periods of drought (are) putting lives, livelihood and economic activities at risk,” Christian told the stakeholders drawn from other sister agencies and ministries.

In Guyana, the OCC Head said, the source of power generation is a major source greenhouse gas emission in the country. She said it is for that reason the Government aspires to transition to 63 per cent renewable energy by 2035 in keeping with the draft Green State Development Strategy (GSDS).

Guyana, Christian said, will continue to pursue sustainable management of its forest resources – a source of mitigation, however, challenges are already popping up. Alluding to Region Nine, she said access to water and water resources management have been a challenge but Government with support of some of its local arms and international partners such as Brazil has been able to remedy the situation in some instances with the development of manmade reservoirs.

“We are hearing already that farmers are crying out as it relates to access. Streams and ponds are drying up…and so it is very real,” the OCC Head said.

She said Guyana needs to take action to ensure that it protects the lives, livelihood, ecosystem and infrastructure of its people. “We need to have a framework across government through policy, strategies and plans to ensure that we adapt, to ensure that we adjust, to ensure that we build resilience, so when these events come, we are able to withstand and continue to live as normal,” Christian emphasised.

It was noted that though Guyana is not a major emitter, all countries have equal but differentiated responsibilities. As such, she said it is important for the country to increase its ambition to mitigate; hence it is pushing for renewable energy. However, Christian said with the rapid importation of vehicles, the transportation sector could become a major contributor of greenhouse gas emission in the country. The National Climate Change Policy and Action Plan, she posited, will address these concerns while taking into consideration key economic activities, and other critical factors.

OCC is the governmental agency responsible for leading the development and implementation of national policies and actions for ‘climate change mainstreaming’ and the coordination of efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change. The OCC is the National Focal Point for climate change and to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and therefore has a core responsibility to co-ordinate Guyana’s international engagements with the UNFCCC and other climate change processes.