September 28, 2024
By Fabiana McKlmon
During the recent Clinton Global Initiative 2024 meeting in New York, President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali emphasized the Guyana Government’s dedication to preserving the country’s diverse ecosystems.
He underscored the environmental and economic benefits associated with the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS 2030).
President Ali announced plans to double the area designated for biodiversity conservation within the next 18 months, with the goal of achieving the global target of protecting 30 percent of ecosystems by 2030.
He assured attendees that Guyana is on track to meet these biodiversity objectives.
The President highlighted that Guyana’s forests are significant carbon sinks, storing 19.5 gigatonnes of carbon and sequestering 153 million tonnes of carbon each year.
He also reassured that even with the expansion of offshore oil and gas operations, the country would only utilize a fraction, specifically 20 percent, of the carbon it captures, ensuring a focus on environmental sustainability.
Earlier this week, President Ali launched the Global Biodiversity Alliance, aimed at fostering collaboration among biodiversity-rich nations to develop scalable environmental protection models.
The inaugural summit of this alliance is scheduled for next year.
The President’s commitment to sustainable forest management and the nation’s impressively low deforestation rate position Guyana as a global leader in biodiversity conservation efforts and a model for sustainable practices.