By Svetlana Marshall

Addressing the United Nations (UN) General Assembly this afternoon, President Irfaan Ali challenged world leaders to do more to address climate change.

He told the UN that there is need for unified global action to limit global warming,  noting that Guyana is already doing its part.

“We continue to match our words with actions; protecting our forests, investing in sea and river defenses, improving drainage and irrigation, and restoring mangrove ecosystems to protect our people, our land, and our livelihoods,” President Ali said.

It was noted that Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030 demonstrates that economic growth and environmental stewardship can advance hand in hand.  Guyana is the first country certified under the REDD+ Environmental Excellence Standard. He said by successfully selling carbon credits, Guyana is demonstrating to the world that nature has tangible value and that innovation and responsibility can be rewarded.

“We call on the international community to deliver predictable, accessible climate finance, to support adaptation and resilience, and to embrace nature-based solutions,” the President urged.

Alluding to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), President Ali said 2025 marks 10 years since those goals were launched. However, he said they face slow implementation and regression in many areas signaling that promise of 2030 is at risk.

“Guyana calls for renewed global commitment to financing for development, including fulfilling Official Development Assistance pledges, mobilizing domestic resources, and addressing the crippling debt burdens that hinder progress in many developing nations. Addressing these development challenges requires recognizing that the health of our ecosystems is inseparable from the achievement of the SDGs,” he submitted.

It was pointed out that just recently, Guyana convened the inaugural Global Biodiversity Alliance Summit uniting over 140 countries, organizations, community groups, indigenous leaders, scientists, and financial institutions.

President Ali said the Georgetown Declaration, which was endorsed by this broad coalition of stakeholders, sends a clear and urgent message that biodiversity is a global public good, and its protection must be woven into national development plans, climate strategies, and financial frameworks.

“Guyana is demonstrating that economic development and environmental stewardship can advance together.  By using natural gas as a bridge away from heavy fuel oil and investing in hydropower, solar, wind, and other renewables, we aim to lower electricity costs for our citizens and businesses while ensuring universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy,” he told the global leaders.

Explaining that Guyana is pursuing an ambitious energy infrastructure and investment plan, President Ali said while climate change is an existential threat, the reality is that the world still requires energy, sourced from petroleum to power growth and development, for which there is growing demand.

This, he said, is essential for the survival of economies around the world, noting that in the case of Guyana – one of the world’s largest energy producers per capita – it is  carefully balancing its green footprint with energy production.

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