A Common Planet

AS world leaders prepare for the 26th Session of the Conference of Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26), Guyana has already signaled its support for a reduction in global carbon emission levels in order to save humanity from an otherwise catastrophic situation. The conference will be hosted by the United Kingdom and will take place during the period October 31 to November 12, 2021 in Glasgow.

For nearly three decades the United Nations has been bringing together almost every country in the world for global climate summits, called COPs, which stands for ‘Conference of the Parties’. This year will be the 26th Summit and expectations are high that new and strategic decisions will be taken to reduce carbon emissions to targeted levels.

Addressing a high-level thematic debate on  “Delivering Climate Action for People’ in advance of that important Conference, Guyana’s President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali made it abundantly clear that any delay in the reaching climate change targets is not an option but must be aggressively pursued if humanity is to be saved from threats to its very survival.

As observed by President Ali, climate change continues to be one of humanity’s foremost existential threats.  According to the President, ‘we are faced with no other choice but to act now, or consign humanity to doom’.

Climate change is real. There is no point denying its potential to threaten our very existence. We have already experienced the disastrous impact of extreme weather patterns as shown in our recent flood situation. For us in Guyana, that was certainly a wake-up call that we are not in any way insulated from further harmful effects of climate change.

The hard fact is that we are still lagging significantly behind in terms of reaching the target of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of this century in order to avoid irreversible changes in the environment. Much deeper cuts in emission levels are needed and countries, especially those in the advanced industrial world, will most likely be encouraged at the upcoming summit not only to honour existing commitments but to take action to further reduce carbon emission levels.

Guyana, it must be noted, has net-zero carbon emissions. Even as we move in the direction as an oil-producing nation, we will still remain a net-zero global carbon emitter and is likely to remain so well into the future. This is due in part to our vast virgin forests and to our low carbon development trajectory in addition to the several initiatives and interventions made by the PPP/C administration to lessen our dependence on fossil fuel and in the reduction of carbon footprints.

Climate change, however, is an issue that goes beyond our territorial boundary. Despite the fact of our being a net-zero carbon emitter, we are as vulnerable to the impact of climate change as any other country. This is especially so for Small-Island Developing and Low-Lying Coastal States which are threatened by dangerously rising sea levels and extreme weather conditions which could give rise to floods, droughts, hurricanes and other natural disasters.

The upcoming COP26 provides an opportunity for leaders and policymakers to do some serious stock-taking and come up with new strategies on how best to mitigate the harmful effects of climate change. As stated by President Ali, it must restore confidence in international co-operation such as that which led to the historic Paris Agreement on climate change. It must, in a concrete way, rekindle that spirit of a common planet and that of a common destiny. It must result in decisions that would allow for a transfer of resources and technology to support mitigation and adaptation efforts, especially as they relate to small states.

Guyana as a member of the global community is willing to play its part in reducing emission levels and providing the world with critical climate and ecosystem services. Indeed, through our low carbon approach to development, we are to a significant degree a model country on how small countries can meaningfully contribute to mitigation efforts and increasing climate resilience.

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