AS the world marked World Environment Day 2026 yesterday, the international community’s call for environmental action is resounding and unmistakable: climate change, loss of biodiversity and land degradation are not just environmental issues but social and economic crises, with women and girls bearing the brunt.
The warning from UN Women is timely and urgent. Climate-related disasters are threatening food security, livelihoods, health and personal safety around the world. Vulnerable communities, especially those with the least capacity to adapt, are being hit hardest by droughts, floods, contaminated water supplies and declining agricultural productivity.
More and more studies are showing how climate shocks can lead to increased rates of child marriage and higher temperatures are associated with higher risks of premature births and stillbirths.

For Guyana, these realities are not distant matters. Internationally, the country is renowned for its extensive forest cover, Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and leadership in climate and biodiversity conservation, but it is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
Most Guyanese live in coastal communities that are threatened by rising sea levels. Flooding that occurs more often affects farming, infrastructure and public health.
Extreme weather events are putting increasing pressure on rural communities and indigenous villages, whose livelihoods depend on natural resources.

Women are often at the frontline of these challenges. Women are key to feeding households and building resilient communities, from farmers to caregivers, entrepreneurs, educators and community leaders.
In hinterland and riverine communities, indigenous women are custodians of traditional environmental knowledge and make a significant contribution to conservation efforts.
But they frequently face barriers to land ownership, financing, leadership roles and decision-making.
The global call by UN Women rightly points out that climate action and gender equality go hand-in-hand.
There’s no real climate justice when half the population is excluded from leadership, resources and opportunities.
Therefore, environmental policies should ensure that women are not only beneficiaries of climate programmes, but also active contributors to the design and implementation of solutions.
But climate action is not only the task of governments and international organisations. And it starts in our homes, schools, workplaces and communities.
On this World Environment Day, Guyanese are challenged to take on one of the simplest, yet most impactful environmental actions available: composting household organic waste.
This appeal highlights an often-missed aspect of environmental stewardship, our own waste habits of the day.
Information from landfill operations under the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development show that landfill sites in Guyana receive between 1,500 to 3,000 tonnes of waste daily.
Much of this waste is made up of biodegradable materials, such as fruit and vegetable peels, food scraps and cardboard.
Much of it is no good for a landfill. Organic waste degradation in landfill sites results in environmental pollution and greenhouse gases emission. But these materials can be converted into nutrient-rich compost for home gardens, agriculture and landscaping.
However, various composting methods show how average homes can convert kitchen scraps and cardboard into Organic Miracle Garden Soil in less than three months.
Dozens of families have already taken part in the initiative reducing the amount of waste going to landfills and producing valuable compost for productive use.
Such grassroots efforts merit our recognition and assistance. They are closely aligned with Guyana’s broader sustainability goals, enhance food security and encourage citizens to take ownership of environmental protection.
More importantly, they remind us that environmental responsibility is not the preserve of government policies or international conferences. It is embodied in the choices people make every day.
While Guyana continues to undergo rapid economic change, environmental sustainability must remain a key pillar of national development.
Economic growth and environmental stewardship are not competing priorities, they are two sides of the same coin that must go together.
Investments in the long-term prosperity of the country include biodiversity conservation, waste reduction, women empowerment, strengthening community resilience, and promoting sustainable practices.
World Environment Day is a time to reflect and to act. Our job is simple: build a cleaner, more resilient and more equitable society where environmental protection and social justice are inseparable.
Climate justice is gender justice. Citizen participation is essential for achieving environmental sustainability.
Lasting change starts with the decisions we make today, whether in the boardroom, the village council, the farm, or just in our own backyard compost bin.
The future of Guyana’s environment will not be decided simply by policies written on paper. It will be the product of the collective actions of its people.