WHILE addressing his fellow world leaders recently at the 78th United Nations (UN) General Assembly’s General Debate in New York, President of Guyana, Dr. Irfaan Ali delivered a speech that was a sharp condemnation of many unfair global systems, which he emphasised were the source of the world’s current climate issue.
President Irfaan Ali also discussed Guyana’s plans to show how the country can promote growth while also pursuing economic development and environmental protection. While agreeing that there is a need for high emitting nations to cut their emissions of greenhouse gases, he also said that small developing nations like Guyana shouldn’t bear the responsibility at this time since their emissions haven’t been very high. He asserted that Guyana and other small, developing nations should instead see financing flows to support development, adaptation, and mitigation actions.

The President drew attention to Guyana in particular, noting that the nation has been protecting its untouched forests for years without as yet a global mechanism that specifically recognizes and finances these efforts.

According to President Ali, “My country, Guyana, is blessed with the best of both worlds, that is, the ability to lead on climate change and the use of our expansive oil and gas reserves to contribute to the advancement and development of our country and region.” Adding that, “As custodians of a rainforest the size of England and Scotland combined, we are of the view that the lack of financing for standing forests suggests they are worth more dead than alive. That is why we support the expansion of financial mechanisms that appropriately value the environmental services provided by forests, including through the carbon market.”

However, according to the President, climate finance flows to countries like Guyana are still insufficient. As a result, President Ali and other political figures from developing countries have called for more action on meeting climate finance commitments by the developed world.

President Ali commented that developing nations face inadequacies in the global financial system, which fails to address their difficulties and provide them with better financing. He emphasized that reform is essential. He stated, “Financing is a cornerstone of all efforts to achieve the (Sustainable Development Goals) and the challenges faced by developing countries, including the funding gaps, which I highlighted in the SDG Summit. The existing financial architecture is incapable of addressing current global challenges and must be reformed.”
President Ali’s stance on this matter leads in the global call for long-accepted systems to be reformed.

President Ali also addressed several other global issues in his 20-minute presentation, including food security, peace and stability, and international law.
This is part of a weekly series on LCDS. The author can be contacted at cparkinson0206@gmail.com.