Guyana optimistic about Rio+20 results

Jun 13, 2012 News

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On what can be described as the eve of the Rio+20 Summit, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment (NRE) on Monday convened a second preparatory workshop which saw the outlining of Guyana’s main position that will be advanced at the global event in Rio de Janiero Brazil as well as the presentation of the National Stock-taking Report, prepared by Dr. Paulette Bynoe.

President Donald Ramotar will be leading Guyana’s delegation to the Summit next week; however, Presidential Advisor on sustainable Development, Navin Chandarpal and another Government of Guyana representative will be heading to Brazil for the preliminary talks which commence on June 12.
According to Government Information Agency (GINA) report, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, who was standing in for President Ramotar, said that the realisation of climate change has forced the recognition that the world is one. He noted too, that Guyana has a good case to put forward and can also learn a lot from the other nations, who have been working to address this problem from their own point of view.
“I hope that by the end of this year, the world at large will be taking great steps towards the agreements that we have been looking for,” the Prime Minister posited.
Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Robert Persaud, pointed that even though Guyana is heading to Rio+20 with high hopes; there is a feeling of gloominess that pervades the international community.
“While this conference takes on the larger objective in terms of promoting sustainable development and looking at key areas, there is not much optimism that there will be the types of commitments and firm resolve to take the necessary actions that are so required, if we are to achieve a viable framework whereby we can promote the objectives of sustainable development.”
In 1992, one of the major outcomes of Rio+ was the United Nations (UN) framework on climate change, which led to the emergence of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 as well as a number of other positive results. Minister Persaud highlighted that even if the desired outcome is not achieved at Rio+20, Guyana is on an irreversible track in terms ensuring that development is done along a low carbon pathway.
Additionally, Guyana stands firm in its commitment to ensure that all international commitments are abided by, as well as upgrading national policies in a much more vigorous way. The National Stock-taking Report documents in details how Guyana has been able to fulfill all its commitments.
“In reviewing this report, I hope that all of us will be proud of the efforts we have made as a nation over the past 20 years in fulfilling the commitments; sticking to the overall objectives of the first Rio Summit. This should certainly give us a great sense of national pride,” Persaud asserted.
Chandarpal in his remarks said that the international community at Rio needs to be reminded of certain obligations that were made but remained unfulfilled to date. The Iwokrama Rainforest Programme is an example of one such undertaking, which was the product of massive widespread consultations.
“Here was a small country with limited resources providing to the world a living laboratory; to really put into effect what sustainable forest management would mean…Iwokrama Rainforest Programme could very well stifle to death because those made bold promises and those who have the resources to give, have not been fulfilling their responsibilities,” he said.
However, Minister Persaud stated that Government will not allow the programme to sink, even if it does not manage to garner the amount of resources needed from the international community.
Chandarpal too, said that Guyana that Rio+20 provides the opportunity of the reinvigoration of the spirit that existed in 1992, that would allow for developed and developing states to see that there can be no solution without cooperation.
Meanwhile, Presidential Advisor, Shyam Nokta, reminded of the challenges and threats posed by climate change. He noted that since the Rio Summit in 1992, Guyana has made marked progress, foremost of which is the Low Carbon Development Strategy, which seeks to reconcile two global forces often deemed incompatible: economic development and combating climate change.
He posited that Rio+20 will be an ideal opportunity for the global leadership,  to take stock of what has been achieved in the last 20 years, push the theme of green economy and to shift the momentum of leadership on sustainable development and climate change.
“Guyana is going into Rio+20 having made significant progress from 1992 on all of the obligations we have signed as part of Agenda 21 and the three Rio Conventions,” he said.
UN Resident Coordinator, Khadija Musa in her remarks said that, “Guyana has made commendable progress in the pursuit of sustainable development. The national approach to sustainable development in Guyana is based on a commitment to ensure the integration of the three pillars of sustainable development in the national policy framework,” Musa said.
She also pledged the UN system’s support to the development of low carbon approaches that promote sustainable poverty reduction and pro-poor growth in Guyana; noting that the National Stock-taking Report stands as testimony to effective collaboration that has characterised the process.
The Rio+20 Summit will be held from June 20-22, where Guyana is scheduled to present a national assessment of the country’s progress;  gaps remaining and the country’s experiences and opportunities pertaining to the themes of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD).
Issues that will be discussed include: securing political commitment for sustainable development, addressing progress towards global commitments, addressing new and emerging challenges especially those related to the transition of the low carbon economy.

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