The importance of the green agenda

Dec 11, 2016 APNU Column, Features / Columnists

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(Excerpts from Budget 2017 presentation by Hon, Joseph Harmon MP, Minster of State)

In 2017, the government has made a budgetary allocation of almost $1 billion to implement a

series of renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, following the charge given by His Excellency President David Granger for the public sector to lead the way in transitioning towards greater renewable energy use. These interventions will be channelled through, and managed by the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA).
Additionally under the renewable energy programme 2017, we will install the first ever solar farm, on a large scale at Mabaruma.
The overall annual savings of $193 million and avoided carbon dioxide emissions of 1,674 tonnes as a result of these interventions as well as the further savings of $158 million by replacing 5000 inefficient street lamps are indeed commendable.
President David Granger in his address to the national assembly on October 13th, 2016 stated; “Guyana’s green agenda will promote ‘green’ economic sectors such as the development of climate-resilient agriculture, eco-tourism and information communication technology and promote renewable energy generation, it will ensure a diversified and resilient economy while promoting ‘green’ growth and ‘green’ employment and secure a clean and healthy environment for future generations’.
The importance of the green agenda to the government of Guyana is underscored by the fact that the institutional arrangements for its realisation fall within the remit of the Department of the Environment within the Ministry of the Presidency and therefore under the direct supervision of His Excellency the President. The mandate of the department was also outlined by the President-”the department will ensure more effective communication, cooperation and coordination among agencies concerned with climate change, energy generation, environmental protection, forest conservation, national parks, protected areas, rivers and wildlife protection. The department has been tasked with developing a master plan to achieve the objectives of the ‘green agenda”.
This new green pathway will positively transform our economy and to guide this process, the government of Guyana will develop a green state development plan.
This plan will reorient the structure of our production base not only in the transition to low emission resilient platforms, but also by diversification of the economy that reduces reliance on ailing traditional sectors such as sugar, rice and bauxite.
It will be aligned with the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda which articulates the rights and responsibilities of people to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all peoples. Indeed the green state development plan will propel Guyana as a paragon of sustainable development and environmental security worldwide.
Our green state development plan will be predicated on the following pillars:
· Clean and renewable energy so as to decarbonise the economy and society
· Improving the health, education and livelihood of all Guyanese
· Sustainable management of biodiversity and environmental services
· Establishing green towns and resilient infrastructure (rural and urban development)
· Policies to trigger innovation ,enterprise, new markets, green jobs and competitiveness
· Strong institutions and good governance
· The promotion of international cooperation, trade and investment-regional and international affairs
· Financial strategy.
The scope and utility of the Green State Development Plan will elucidate the mix of new and traditional growth pathways including:
· Ecosystem services and environment
· Tourism
· Natural resources
· Health
· Transportation
· Fisheries
· Energy
· Waste
· Water
· Housing
· Towns and urbanization
Additionally, grass roots programmes for vulnerable and at risks groups will be prioritised along with solutions for unemployment through new and green jobs, business opportunities and new growth pathways, social inclusion, balance in resource use and sustainable preservation of resources for future generations.
Three areas of the green economy as stated by His Excellency the President include;
· Expansion of protected areas
· Centre for biodiversity
· Mainstreaming sustainable land management and development in Guyana.

PROTECTED AREAS SYSTEM
Although Guyana has made some progress recently with regards to protected areas development, we still fall short of international targets. Approximately 8.5 percent of the country’s terrestrial area is committed to protected area status, and when compared to the rest of the Guiana Shield, Guyana has one of the lowest proportions of protected area coverage.
In order for Guyana to achieve the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) target for terrestrial protected area coverage, almost two million hectares would have to be added to the National Protected Areas System (NPAS).
President David Granger is committed to achieving this target. At the United Nations Headquarters on April 22, 2016, in a groundbreaking speech, the President pledged to dedicate an additional two million hectares of terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems for conservation under Guyana’s NPAS
He has further stated that these areas will be established across Guyana’s ten regions in order “…to ensure that conservation is national in scale and covers all of our ecological zones in scope”. This commitment is a key component of Guyana’s “intended nationally determined contributions” under the 2016 Paris Climate Change Agreement. The conservation of these two million hectares represents a transformative moment in Guyana’s history, as it not only preserves the country’s natural patrimony for future generations, but also cements Guyana’s role as an international leader in finding green solutions for a sustainable world.
With this vision at the forefront, 2017 will see the launching of a comprehensive process to identify important areas for biodiversity and potential protected areas.
This process will be based on broad stakeholder consultation and be done in partnership with local communities, conservation NGO’s, universities and the donor community. Efforts will be made to ensure that areas selected are spread across Guyana’s various regions, and that current land use and development potential are also considered.
Rather than just conserving our shared natural patrimony, these protected areas will become spaces for learning and innovation. Building on experiences such as the work of the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development, the President’s vision will allow us to develop uniquely Guyanese tools and knowledge, which can be replicated across the country, and significantly advance national efforts at economic development within a green economy framework.

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