–Guyana to take strong stance at COP29, press for more financing for climate change adaptation, Jagdeo says

WITH the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) convening next week in Baku, Azerbaijan, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has reaffirmed the country’s commitment to advocating for the needs of developing nations, particularly those in the Caribbean, in the fight against climate change.

At a news conference on Thursday, Dr. Jagdeo, who’s also the country’s vice-president, highlighted Guyana’s strong positions heading into the international climate negotiations. “Next week, the Conference of Parties will begin their annual negotiations, and we will be represented there in Azerbaijan,” he said, adding:

“We intend to take some very strong positions, which are not strange or unknown to the Guyanese public, because we have been speaking of these positions for quite a while now… They will be in support of developing countries, particularly vulnerable countries in the Caribbean.”

Guyana, he further noted, will press for increased financial aid for climate adaptation and mitigation efforts in vulnerable nations. “We will be pressing for more financial support for these countries, to help them adapt to the devastating impacts of climate change and to mitigate further environmental damage,” he said.

Further highlighting the urgency of addressing the global climate crisis, Jagdeo pointed out that current policy trends are putting the world on a dangerous trajectory.
“I think it’s clear now to everyone what is at stake,” Dr. Jagdeo said, adding: “The world is on a trajectory, at current policy levels, to see a rise of about 3.1 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.”

He explained that even if all of the pledges made under the Paris Agreement were fully implemented, the world will still face a temperature increase of approximately 2.6 degrees Celsius by the end of the century.

“What is required to avoid catastrophic change is a 1.5 degree rise above pre-industrial levels,” he posited, before noting, “Clearly, even with the pledges, we are way off target. Without additional commitments, at current policy levels, we are looking at more than a 3-degree rise above pre-industrial levels.”

The VP further stressed that the world is already experiencing the early impacts of climate change, particularly in vulnerable regions.

“We are passing the tipping point,” Dr. Jagdeo said. “Already, we are seeing alarming signs in the polar regions; ice sheets are melting, ocean currents are changing, and these could have devastating, catastrophic consequences for the world, particularly for the developing world, which has limited capacity to adapt.”

According to Jagdeo, it’s “a very dangerous time” for the world, as the effects of climate change are increasingly apparent, and threaten to disproportionately affect countries with the least resources to cope with them.

While Guyana has a growing oil-and-gas industry, it has taken an active role in international climate negotiations by balancing its economic development with strong environmental advocacy.

The Vice-President underscored the country’s long-standing position on climate justice and its resolve to continue pushing for stronger action to protect vulnerable populations globally.

Next week, global leaders will once again face the critical question of how to manage the world’s collective response to the climate crisis.

Topics for this year’s conference are expected to focus on advancing Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, securing new climate financing, and building resilience in climate-vulnerable areas.

Last year, Guyana had taken a case to COP28 to secure a structured market for carbon credits.

Officials had hoped that the discussion would have led to policies that could see heavily forested countries like Guyana earning more money for its standing trees.