MINISTER of State, Ms Dawn Hastings-Williams, on Wednesday, received a courtesy call from United Kingdom Deputy High Commissioner to Guyana, Mr. Ray Davidson to discuss matters of mutual interest, including climate change and conservation. The meeting was held at the Minister’s office at the Ministry of the Presidency.

In an invited comment, Mr. Davidson said that he primarily briefed the Minister on the UK Government’s intention to petition the upcoming meeting of the States Parties to the Convention on Biodiversity (CDB), for the protection of at least 30 per cent of the ocean by 2030 (30×30) within a network of protected areas, after announcing its support for the initiative at the United Nations General Assembly in 2018.

Additionally, the two also discussed Guyana’s endorsement of the Call to Action on Adaptation and Resilience, which has been jointly developed by the UK and Egypt targeting net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 at the United Nations Climate Action Summit. The State Minister expressed Guyana’s commitment as a reliable goal partner in tackling climate change and reassured the country’s commitment to the goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. She also signalled the Government’s intention to support the protection of the ocean by 2030.