Latest update May 28th, 2026 12:35 AM
Latest News
- Two-year delay of Wales gas project costing Guyana $884M more
- Guyana, Trinidad refuse to sign CARICOM statement against US military action in Cuba
- Nurse hands over ‘weed’ snacks meant for Mazaruni Prison to police
- U.S. military strikes Iran facility after Trump says Iran is ‘negotiating on fumes’
- Exxon plans to reduce oily discharge in Guyanese waters – 9th project summary
That low carbon strategy
Guyana made its mark when it championed the low carbon development strategy. Today it is the talk of the world. Global warming is real despite what some tried to say.
The evidence is overwhelming and suddenly, the world’s worst polluters recognise that they need to limit their practice.
Guyana with its vast forest offered its forest as part of a programme to save the world and with good reason. Global warming would devastate this country with its low-lying coastland that actually feeds the nation. The agricultural lands lie on the coastal plain which is home to the bulk of the population.
Any rise in sea levels would be devastating and it is this that sparked the interest in a low carbon development strategy that is now the talk of the world.
Of course, there is a cost to the countries preserving their forests and there are those who refuse to acknowledge that cost.
One country that recognise the benefits of the programme that Guyana started is Norway. The world is heading to Copenhagen and if nothing significant comes out of the meeting, Guyana has already scored.
President Bharrat Jagdeo quite appropriately said that the agreement with Norway is Guyana’s Copenhagen. At least one country has recognised the importance of Guyana’s forest.
Brazil has now got into the move to preserve forests and by virtue of its size the world may look to Brazil. Before long it is likely that Guyana’s role will be forgotten. Is this a bad thing?
President Jagdeo says he could not care less. The fate of the world is more important than his thunder.
But there are aspects of the low carbon development strategy that many overlook. Guyana still has scope to use its forest and still qualify.
That is why the establishment of the Amaila Falls hydroelectric project will in no way affect Guyana’s low carbon development strategy.
A sizeable part of the forest would be submerged to establish a reservoir for the 150 megawatt power station but that is a fraction of the area Guyana could afford to exploit.
In addition, the hydroelectric project is nothing but clean air. There is no need for fossil fuels and certainly no pollution.
But hydro apart, Guyana has need to further develop its continental destiny so it would have to clear another section of the forest to establish road links.
There is one thing, though. No one has conducted a study to ascertain just how much carbon is consumed by the forests which release carbon by night.
Perhaps during the process of photosynthesis more carbon is extracted from the atmosphere that is released at nights.
There is also a study to ascertain how much carbon the world can tolerate. Some say that there has been an oversaturation of pollutants to the extent that the global temperature has risen somewhat. The world believes that this level must be reduced.
The developed world once considered a programme of reforestation but balked in the face of the expansion of the societies and the need for food.
This is a growing contradiction. Guyana is not caught up in this and can therefore sell carbon credits to those countries that cannot do what Guyana is doing.
The bottom line is that after centuries Guyana’s forest has become a major earner and Guyanese need that break. For too long they sat and watched others exploit their resources.
Share this:
Discover more from Kaieteur News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.