THE Guyana Tourism Authority has partnered with the Strong Universal Network (SUNx) to launch the “Plan for Our Kids Programme” which offers a lifetime learning system for climate-friendly travel, and interested students are asked to apply to be the first “Climate Champion for Guyana”.

The programme will initially select one student to represent the country and work with the stakeholders in the sector to boost membership in the years ahead. Coordinators of the programme are hopeful that the private sector will jump on board. It is hoped that the private sector companies could sponsor some 50 mentored national climate champions under their brand.

The programme is expected to start with one selected person, providing them with a lifetime learning on climate friendly travel and climate resilience from primary school through University and into the participant’s professional careers.

“We are delighted to be working in partnership with SUNx to support the next generation of sustainable tourism leaders, focused on climate change,” GTA Director, Brian T. Mullis, commented on the partnership, a press statement said.

“Guyana’s ‘Green’ State Agenda places us in a global leadership position, and we will do all we can to build the capacity of future leaders within the travel and tourism industry to help realise our long-term vision for a ‘green’, inclusive and prosperous Guyana that provides a good quality of life for all its citizens based on a sound education and social protection, low-carbon resilient development, ‘green’ and decent jobs, economic opportunities, individual equality, justice, and political empowerment.”

SUNx is a new system for tourism destinations and stakeholders to build climate resilience in line with the targets of the Paris Agreement through climate-friendly travel. It is managed by the Belgian-based not-for-profit Green Growth and Travelism Institute (GGTI).
SUNx is a legacy of Sustainable Development pioneer Maurice Strong, co-founded by Professor Geoffrey Lipman.

“SUNx aims to create 100,000 “Strong Climate Champions” by 2030, across all United Nations (UN) States to support transformation to the new climate economy.
The first Guyanese student to be a part of the programme will receive a complimentary lifetime access to the Sunx Portal. The portal provides content, data and support on climate friendly travel, as well as a related course for college-level students that is designed for people planning careers in the travel and tourism sector.

Interested applicants can apply online at https://www.thesunprogram.com/climate-champions/guyana-programme’ while private sector companies interested in having their brand involved in the project can contact SUNx Program Manager, Olly Wheatcroft, by email at olly@thesunprogram.com.