Guyana’s biggest threat is climate change

Sep 16, 2023 Letters

Dear Editor,

The President has made the current turmoil in Haiti the top priority of his agenda for the UN Security Council. I would encourage the President to take a moment and consider a much more urgent and serious issue that will affect the entire region which also includes Haiti.

The most existential threat faced by Guyana is climate change. Unmitigated, it will result in extensive global migration from low lying areas across the world. This will also have a significant impact on our region and will create a very serious global security crisis. The permanent members of the UN Security Council will face the brunt of this crisis. As a low-lying nation and a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, we must make the most of this opportunity to ensure that climate change is placed at the top of the Security Council’s agenda. We must champion the goals of the Guiana Shield to ensure that the climate services provided are paid for at a level that will encourage the departure from fossil fuels; and ensure that first world countries are able to maintain their security by preventing climate driven migration. By working closely with the members of the Council, Guyana can aid by focusing the discussion on setting achievable targets and putting in place an implementable action plan that will: –

Prevent migration driven by climate change
Provide a clear outline of what must be done in the event that extensive migration has to occur

First world countries will support such an agenda, as it will help clarify the impact and urgency of aggressive preventive actions. Guyana must be willing to accept payment for the climate services provided by our country that is equivalent to the value our oil resources. We must be willing to do this in order to: –

Aid first world countries in the avoidance of climate change driven migration that will significantly reduce their level of national security
Prevent us from losing the coastal plains where the majority of our people and infrastructure is located.

Climate driven migration will increase the threats of disease and viruses. We have all seen the devastating impact of the pandemic caused by the COVID-19 virus. Extensive emergency migration will be much more severe. There will also be an increase in the exposure of first world countries to acts of domestic terrorism, increased vulnerability to food shortages, and increased levels of poverty and government spending. Factors that can bankrupt first world nations and weaken their national defence.

We must, as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, ensure that the serious threats to national and global security remain top of mind, and we must ensure that clear decisive actions are agreed upon and taken to maintain the peace and security that we have fought so hard for over the centuries.

Best regards,

Mr. Jamil Changlee

Chairman

The Cooperative Republicans of Guyana

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Haiti, Mr. Jamil Changlee, Nation, permanent, UN Security Council

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