Climate action and economic growth can go hand-in-hand, says President

Amid Guyana’s swift economic rise, President Ali has affirmed that climate action does not have to be sacrificed on the alter of prosperity.

President Ali was at the time delivering the keynote address to the inaugural meeting of the Forest and Climate Leaders’ Partnership (FCLP) in Guyana.

“Our message is simple – prosperity and forest protection are not mutually exclusive…in our 15-year journey…we have learnt what works and what doesn’t,” he posited.

The FCLP, originally initiated in 2022, comprises 32 countries with immense forest cover who collectively advocate for climate financing to enhance economic advancement.

President Ali, who has given himself the nickname “Forest Man” on the global climate stage, urged the delegates of the FCLP to develop actionable measures that will see the member countries benefitting from the climate financing they deserve.

“The FCLP must help emulate forest action to the highest political level, so that action and forests are seen as core national development [and] not just environmental policies,” the Head of State urged.

Also delivering remarks at the opening ceremony was Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat. Minister Bharrat reaffirmed the importance of member countries keeping their forests standing, as it is pivotal for national and international life to go on.

“Reducing deforestation and keeping forests standing is everyone’s business. All of us are involved in this together…we must advocate as a group, as a collective,” he noted.

UK High Commissioner to Guyana, Jane Miller, commended Guyana’s commitment to forest preservation and urged other countries to adopt similar levels of dedication.

Guyana continues to be a global leader on forests, with its Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030 demonstrating real results in climate finance. It is the first country in the world to issue ART-TREES credits, issuing 33.4 million credits in late 2022. Thus far, Guyana has sold about 30 per cent of its credits, earning a minimum of US$750 million in a sale to Hess Corporation. (DPI)

The gathering at the forum