The world over has been touched by the Japanese tragedy that has already claimed the lives of thousands. From this and other major tragedies around the world of recent times, it is becoming increasingly clear that the world is changing and that mankind has to urgently adapt to present-day threats. Every medium – newspapers, the television and the internet carry haunting images of bodies swept in with the tide to Japan’s shores, as well as the wreckage and the devastation that has become what was, merely days ago, a bustling hive of activity.
Resonating in the soul are images of vigils kept, candles lighted for loved ones lost and memorial sites set up to honour the victims of the recent 8.9 earthquake that rocked Japan and the tsunami that overwhelmed its north-east region.
This is all that can be done now; all that is left to do is to bring some absolution to those who have nothing left to do but hope for a miracle for those missing, or pray for a soul that has gone to a better place.
The conditions for survivors are beyond harsh: no electricity, freezing temperatures and little food and water to go on.  Although caring nations are joining in the relief efforts, there is little impact of any help in many areas.
Not much can be done in Japan in terms of prevention, since the damage is already done and is being compounded by a further threat of a nuclear crisis. However, resource-rich countries can make offers of support, as many are doing.
But, drawing the parallel from the devastation in the South Asian nation, the necessity for some level of preparation to tackle these present-day threats is seen as an imperative. Guyana can do something, Guyanese can do something, to support the efforts being made to address emerging threats, with a primary focus in Guyana’s case, in continuing to advance the country’s adaptation to climate change.
The expected 4.2 degree rise on global temperature during the first half of the century will raise sea levels by 15 to 30 cm by 2040. Some estimates give a higher figure for the Caribbean region. According to the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 2009 report, global sea levels are expected to rise by at least one metre by 2100.
Guyana is approximately 0.5 to 1.0 metres below mean sea level, which exacerbates the doom predicted by these numbers.
Looking at Guyana’s response to climate change, among the many initiatives being undertaken are special programmes by the agriculture sector, which is doing much to bring relief to communities countrywide, such as Climate Smart Agriculture, to ensure: a level of resiliency to the impacts of climate change; advance mitigation of those impacts as well; and improved food security.
Economically, the agriculture sector contributes  35 per cent of Guyana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP); 40 per cent of export earnings; employs 30 per cent of the country’s workforce and is an important food source for the population; hence the need to ensure that systems are in place to facilitate adaptation in this vital sector. 
Worldwide, the challenges seem alarming.
Nigeria, for example, is experiencing an increasing incidence of diseases, declining agricultural productivity, increasing number of heat waves, unreliable weather patterns and flooding, declining rainfall, among others. Climate change is making some land unsuitable and affecting water supplies, threatening people’s basic needs and triggering displacement.
The current situation and the projected impacts of climate change have undeniably propelled the need to build capacity and increase stakeholders’ support in the adaptation process.
In Guyana, some initiatives include the Guyana Mangrove Restoration Project which, despite a few administrative challenges, is progressing well.
The overall objective of the project is to abate climate change (carbon sequestration through reforestation and forest preservation) and to mitigate its effects (sea defence, biodiversity). An important point to note is that mangrove forests have the potential to sequester 1.7 tonnes of carbon per hectare annually and therefore increases its importance in the climate change fight. The environmental impact of the investment into the protection, management and restoration of mangrove forests in Guyana is significant.
The other major project is the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), which re-aligns the whole development of the country on a low-carbon path: development of hydro-electric power; sustainable forestry; investment in ‘low-carbon’ sectors such as fruit, vegetables and aquaculture;low-impact mining and eco-tourism.
Central to the LCDS is the value of Guyana’s 15 million hectares of rainforests. These are reported to give an economic value to the world of $40 billion per year, for carbon sequestration, bio-diversity and water regulation, whereas the value to Guyana of the forest through harvesting and use of the land would be an estimated$4-23 billion. This “Economic Value to the Nation” is estimated to be equivalent to annual annuity payments to Guyana of $580 million, which is projected to fund the LCDS.
These incentive payments would help prevent deforestation and avoid emissions of 1.5 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2020.
However, the persisting challenge is the need for increased public education as it relates to climate change adaptation.
Although there have been nationwide consultations, it seems that the stark imperatives and the reality of climate change have not  impacted in a major way on the psyche of the nation.
How many people understand that climate change adaptation and mitigation can be supported by doing simple supportive things, such as buying energy-efficient office products and equipment, or using less paper, or buying organic foods, or using less plastic and styrofoam containers; or even by switching to fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles?
Getting ‘green-educated’ is one of the main ways in which the effort to adapt to climate change, as well as mitigate its effects can help to change lifestyles and behaviour patterns that will help to sustain the earth that we all live on.  Education is an important resource and will play a major role in the climate change fight.
Climate change has destroyed, and will continue to destroy basic infrastructure, disrupt services and undermine livelihoods, and has the potential to impoverish vulnerable populations; and this is a real threat for which Guyana must prepare.