SUBSEQUENT to a Commonwealth event convened in Dubai on December 3, 2023, within the framework of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28), and a commitment to spearhead collective initiatives among the 56 member nations of the Commonwealth, Guyana will lend its support to the Commonwealth Living Lands Action Group as it focuses on sustainable green cover and biodiversity.

In order to promote coordinated action among the 56 Commonwealth nations on land, biodiversity, and climate challenges—which directly affect a fifth of the world’s land area—the Commonwealth Secretariat unveiled a new implementation framework during the event. Following the Living Lands Charter’s acceptance last year, there have been intensive talks with Commonwealth nations prior to the launch.

The framework was endorsed during the event by speakers, including Ibrahim Thiaw, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), and Prime Minister Robert Abela of Malta.

“The world is experiencing a planetary crisis; addressing climate change, protecting biodiversity, and nurturing ecological restoration of our land has become an urgent priority for all Commonwealth members,” Prime Minister Abela stated during his speech at the occasion.

“We are here to renew our commitment to work together towards the same through the Living Lands Charter. We hope that our experience inspires Commonwealth countries facing similar tough challenges.”

According to the Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt. Hon. Patricia Scotland KC, “Our Commonwealth encompasses a quarter of the world’s land area and is home to a third of the world’s mega-biodiverse countries. More than 400 endemic species are found in our small island states. The impact of climate change is increasingly severe across our countries. Food insecurity is increasing. Soil is depleting. The sheer scale of these challenges compels us to lead with bold action.”

She added, “With this implementation framework, we are taking a giant leap forward. It will leverage the combined strength of the Commonwealth through thematic action working groups—learning from each other and spurring one another on towards system change and a better future for all.”

Climate-resilient agriculture for food security; soil and water conservation; sustainable green cover and biodiversity; carbon-neutral and climate-resilient livestock rearing and animal husbandry; and indigenous and local people for climate-resilient development are the five thematic action areas that the framework uses to implement the Living Lands Charter systemically.
Some of the Champion Countries that have stepped forward to lead on the priority areas of action are; Guyana will champion action on sustainable green cover and biodiversity; Kenya will lead action on climate-resilient agriculture for food security; and Malta will spearhead the conservation of soil and water.

The Commonwealth will provide substantial support to nations in order to help them fulfil their obligations within each theme area. In order to provide this support, resources must be mobilised for implementation, analyses must be carried out for policymaking, institutional governance must be facilitated, assistance with capacity building must be provided, and knowledge must be produced for member nations.

A directive from the June 2022 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) prompted the development of the implementation framework.

With a view to assisting nations in reaching the objectives outlined in the Paris Agreement, the Global Biodiversity Framework, and the UNCCD Strategic Plan for Land Degradation Neutrality, the Secretariat for the three Rio Conventions greeted the framework with warmth and optimism.

The Emirates Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, and Climate Action and the framework’s release are happening simultaneously.

The Vice President of Guyana, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, recently spoke about Guyana’s integral role at COP 28. During one of his recent press conferences, he explained that “our position is that forests cannot be saved by philanthropy. We have gone past that model. We see it as an important abatement solution to climate change. You cannot achieve net zero without tackling a key source of emissions, which is forest and land degradation, and it is not getting the required attention because forest carbon is not part of a compliance market.”

Dr. Jagdeo further noted that official development assistance and other public money are not currently being allocated to the preservation of forests on a large scale. “…we don’t expect any to be made available, given how adaptation has fared globally because it has suffered from a lack of funding,” he related.

Guyana’s goal to promote a market-based system to achieve that was also mentioned by the Vice President. According to Dr. Jagdeo, Guyana began the discussion about two decades ago, but a lot of non-governmental organisations with ulterior motives destroyed the momentum.

Nevertheless, he stated that Guyana intends to advocate for a system that will provide financial rewards for forest conservation.

In terms of internal development, Guyana has made great strides towards utilising its vast forests. This accomplishment has been largely attributed to the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). Guyana struck a historic agreement in the voluntary carbon markets for Guyana’s internationally recognised carbon credits based on this same technique. The agreement is worth at least US$750 million for approximately a third of Guyana’s annual credits allocation. So far for 2023, at total of US$150 million has already been received.

Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030 is the framework document guiding Guyana’s engagement in the carbon market.
(This is part of a weekly series on LCDS) The author can be contacted at cparkinson0206@gmail.com