–country to convene high-level open debate on climate change impact and food insecurity in maintenance of international peace, security, under chairmanship of President Ali

JUST one month after joining the United Nations (UN) Security Council as one of its newest non-permanent members, Guyana will preside over the crucial global body for the month of February 2024.

According to the UN’s official website, the Security Council has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. It comprises 15 members (permanent/non-permanent), and each member has one vote. Under the charter of the United Nations, all member states are obligated to comply with Council decisions.

“The Security Council takes the lead in determining the existence of a threat to the peace or act of aggression. It calls upon the parties to a dispute to settle it by peaceful means and recommends methods of adjustment or terms of settlement. In some cases, the Security Council can resort to imposing sanctions or even authorise the use of force to maintain or restore international peace and security,” the UN underscored.

In an article published by the Guyana Chronicle, Guyana’s Foreign Secretary and High Representative for United Nations Security Council Affairs, Robert Persaud announced: “Merely one month after assuming its seat as an elected member, Guyana will preside over the United Nations Security Council in February 2024.”

He said to mark its presidency, Guyana will convene a signature event that will be chaired by President, Dr Irfaan Ali in the form of a high-level open debate under the theme, “The Impact of Climate Change and Food Insecurity in the Maintenance of International Peace and Security.”

“Given the growing concern and acknowledgement of the climate, food and conflict nexus, the open debate will promote greater understanding, better coordination of responses, and proactive approaches to addressing the intersection of food insecurity and climate change in the maintenance of international peace and security,” Persaud said.

Guyana has been at the forefront of discussions related to climate change, food security, and international peace and security on the global stage.

Regarding climate change, the country’s landmark Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030 is a testament to its commitment to not just discussing the topic, but also presenting actionable solutions for sustainable development.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had said: “The LCDS is a framework intended to map the path of a new growth trajectory in a non-polluting way. Tropical forest countries have long called for the ecosystem services provided by the world’s standing tropical forests to be properly valued, through both public and private finance. This will enable people who live in forests and forest countries to create jobs and economic opportunity from an economy that works with nature, instead of today’s reality where forests are often worth more dead than alive.”

The LCDS 2030, according to the official website, sets out four inter-linked objectives for Guyana, the first three of which were the basic objectives of the LCDS since 2009 and the fourth of which was added to reflect new local and global realities: Value Ecosystem Services; Invest in Clean Energy and Stimulate Low Carbon Growth; Protect Against Climate Change and Biodiversity Loss; and Align with Global Climate and Biodiversity Goals.

In the area of food security, Guyana is also pursuing pragmatic policies to sustainably increase food production not just for local consumption, but also for the benefit of the region. The country has the lead role in CARICOM’s thrust to achieve its 25 by 25 objective, which entails reducing the region’s food-import bill by 25 per cent by 2025.

With the country also being a strong advocate for international peace and security, it is safe to determine that President Ali is well positioned to preside over a healthy debate on the pertinent topic.

“All our citizens should be proud that Guyana will play its part in building alliances and engaging meaningfully in finding long lasting and sustainable solutions to conflicts, in line with international law and the UN Charter,” Persaud said.

He highlighted that Guyana’s presence on the Security Council comes amidst the rise in the number of conflicts, increase in democratic backslide, and threat to peace in many regions of the world.

According to the Foreign Secretary: “The wars in Ukraine and Gaza, for instance, have upended peace, causing instability with far-reaching consequences for both the human beings who are the casualties, and the international system which is now experiencing severe strain.”

Cognisant of the global issues and importance of peace, Guyana’s engagement in the Council, Persaud said, will be guided by the consistent and principled approach historically adopted in relation to people’s right to self-determination, adherence to international law, and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The theme of Guyana’s participation in the Security Council is, “Partnering for Peace and Prosperity.”

It was reported that Guyana’s tenure on the Council will be rooted in a firm commitment to multilateralism and guided by the priorities of (i) climate change, food insecurity and conflict; (ii) peacebuilding and conflict prevention; (iii) women, peace and security; (iv) protection of children in armed conflict; and (v) youth, peace and security.