Interest in Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030 was high among a group of youth leaders and young professionals, from over 30 different countries, who are currently meeting in Casablanca, Morocco to discuss and develop community-based solutions for global challenges.
Hosted by the Headway Institute of Strategic Alliance (HISA), the Global Youth Convention (GYC) 2023 placed significant importance on climate change and energy at this year’s Convention.
Guyana’s lone representative at the forum is Ravin Singh who currently serves as the Director of Projects and Policy at the Office of the First Lady, and is a member of the local non-governmental organization (NGO) Guyana Environment Initiative (GEI).
Singh used his presentation on day one of the Convention to draw attention to Guyana’s LCDS 2030 which is a roadmap of how the country will accelerate economic growth and development in a non-polluting, low-carbon way.
He highlighted the fact that the strategy places great focus on the sustainable management of Guyana’s forests, which provide invaluable carbon sequestration and ecosystem services.
Attention was also drawn to climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies as outlined in the LCDS 2030, with a focus on infrastructure, agriculture and health.
Referencing President Irfaan Ali’s remarks in Qatar recently, that Guyana is leading on the issue of climate change globally, Singh said that it was surprising to note that many of the delegates at the convention did not know much, if anything at all, about Guyana.
“It was therefore important for me to tell our story and let our environmental credentials be known to youth leaders who are influencing policies around the globe,” he told the News Room.
The youth representative also highlighted the historic multi-year agreement for the sale of carbon credits by Guyana to Hess Corporation.
Singh said the sale of carbon credits was an area in which many of the delegates were interested since many countries have not been able to earn from the provision of carbon services.
Guyana’s forest, which is the second-largest forest cover globally, stores 19.5 gigatonnes of carbon.
Referencing this, he made it known that even though Guyana is responsibly pursuing oil and gas developments, the country remains a net zero carbon emitter.
The participants also learned of Guyana’s plans and ongoing efforts to develop an energy mix with a focus on solar, wind, hydro and natural gas.
The GYC seeks to inspire and support community-based solutions by connecting youth leaders and young professionals with industry experts and policymakers from around the world. It also provides a platform for policy formulation and reforms at the local, regional and international levels.
