Time for Guyana to be heard

May 10, 2026 Letters

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Dear Editor,

I firmly agree with President Dr. Irfaan Ali that “Countries protecting environmental resources must be fairly compensated.” The Head-of-State made this vital global call from Houston, Texas, during his Baker Institute’s Centre for Energy Studies’, titling it, “The Future of Guyana.” It was poignant and quite necessary, and hopefully this ‘call’ will become a universal mantra.

Right off the bat, I can think of Brazil. The country receives funds for REDD+ initiatives and forest protection, particularly in the Amazon, supported by international donors. By way of information, REDD+ is an UN-backed climate change mitigation framework, that incentivizes developing countries, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by protecting, managing, and restoring forests. It stands for “Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.” There is also Indonesia, receiving significant payments from Norway for curbing emissions by conserving peatlands and forests. There is no need to keep itemising, and hopefully readers will delve into the issue, and thus be able to join in the president’s chorus.

It was noteworthy that President Ali clearly delineated that “Our carbon credits are certified at jurisdictional scale,” meaning that even though Guyana is rightfully maximising its oil and gas sector, “… it has simultaneously maintained one of the world’s lowest deforestation rates and preserved more than 85 per cent forest cover.” This kind of stewardship must be commended and compensated, as greed was never allowed to take over. Guyana, all the while, has been balancing “… pushing for market-based mechanisms that reward nations maintaining standing forests and safeguarding biodiversity…” even as the Oil and Gas sector is undergoing expansion.

President Ali, in a very succinct and bold manner informed all that “Here (Guyana) is a country that is growing its Oil and Gas sector at unprecedented speed, but at the same time securing a standing forest better than anyone else in the world.”

Just for a revision, I remind all that Forest Preservation is essential for maintaining life on Earth, acting as the planet’s primary carbon sink, biodiversity hotspot, and water regulator. Forests in fact mitigate climate change by absorbing billions of tonnes of CO2 annually. We know first-hand too that it serves as protection against erosion and floods, and provides medicines for billions.

As is his won’t, the Guyana President was well-armed with historical and scientific data, as he sounded his clarion call.  His point of contention remains quite tenable as he highlighted that “… global financing systems continue to disadvantage countries that have historically protected their natural resources (since) the world is ready to incentivise and pay countries that took down their forests and give them resources to replant the forests. But for those who kept this standing, you’re given a thank you note.” And for him, “That’s not how international economics work. That is not how countries survive,” and therefore, there must not be any kind of equivocation regarding “advocating for stronger international frameworks that allow forest and biodiversity services to be monetised through market-based systems.”

May I remind people that the Industrial Revolution (c. 1760–1840) wreaked havoc on the environment. Be reminded too that it immensely benefited Great Britain, Western Europe, the United States, Belgium, Germany, France and Japan. Bear in mind too that the said Industrial Revolution caused severe, long-term environmental damage through the massive adoption of coal, leading to intense air pollution, massive deforestation, and severe water contamination. Rapid urban growth overwhelmed sanitation, while industrial waste poisoned landscapes and ecosystems. This shift began accelerating greenhouse gas emissions and resource extraction that still drive modern climate change and habitat loss today.

So, it is fitting (as President Ali reminded his audience), that Guyana is co-chairing the Global Tropical Forest Alliance, as part of efforts to advance international discussions on forest valuation and climate services. Since, as he said, “We live in a world where 60 per cent of our biodiversity is already lost in the last 60 years, biodiversity preservation must be viewed not only as an environmental issue, but also as an economic and developmental concern tied to industries such as healthcare, pharmaceuticals, research and Indigenous heritage.”

Yours truly,

Hargesh B. Singh

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