PRESIDENT Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, in his recent address to the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), has issued a call for the world community to move ‘from ambition to action’.
According to the Guyanese President, the task for us is to move from ambition to action in order to effectively deal with a number of global challenges, such as food security, climate change and energy security.
The UN General Assembly is meeting at a time of unprecedented threats to Mankind’s survival due to climate change, conflicts and war, notably in the Middle East and Ukraine. The conflict in Palestine, which was initially confined to the Gaza, has now spread to the wider Middle East, engulfing countries such as Lebanon and Iran.

The most recent shellings by the Israeli military have left hundreds dead in Lebanon. Over 35,000 people, including women and children, were killed in Palestine by the Israeli military.
The call by President Ali for structural reforms at the United Nations cannot be more timely and relevant. He urged world leaders to channel their efforts towards creating an ecosystem of harmony among the environment, people and technology, and promoting human dignity.
These are, indeed, laudable and forward-looking ideas by President Ali, which touch at the root of the problems facing humanity at this time.
It is no secret that humanity is now, more than ever, faced with existential threats caused by climate change, which has impacted adversely on the cost and availability of food supply on the global market. The technological gap between the developed and the developing nations only serve to exacerbate existing disparities.

According to President Ali, “Let us not rehash the climate story; we know it. Climate finance commitments can no longer be postponed. Forests are an integral part of the climate solution, and it is time that a global market-based mechanism for carbon credit be put in place.”
These are not statements to be taken lightly. In fact, the position taken by Guyana on a number of global issues are not only exemplary but also evidence-based. Guyana, for instance, is one of the few countries in the world that has committed itself to end deforestation by the end of this decade.

It is the only country in the world that has been the beneficiary of carbon credits, and one of the few that has net zero carbon emissions, thanks to prudent deforestation measures and a low-carbon development trajectory, widely acclaimed as a model for both the developed and developing world.
It speaks to the stature and statesmanship of President Ali that Guyana is now recognised as a significant player on the global stage, especially in the critical areas of climate change, food and energy security.

It is not surprising that Guyana’s leading role in the region, and its firm commitment to regional security, democracy and territorial integrity has been hailed by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at a recent meeting in the United States.

President Ali has also recently met with His Majesty King Charles III in Scotland, where the two held discussions regarding Guyana’s Low-Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030 vision. These high-profile engagements are testimony to Guyana’s continuing leadership role on a number of key and critical areas, with a focus on sustainable development, and a fair and just international community.

President Ali must be commended for his proactive and visionary leadership role, not only in the region but at the wider international level.