Guyana is among Caribbean countries to benefit from a multi-million-dollar initiative by the United States Government to help its response to the devastating effects of Climate Change.
Through the U.S.-Caribbean Partnership to Address the Climate Crisis 2030 (PACC 2030), Guyana will benefit from technical assistance to manage renewable energy efficiency and climate adaptation.
A multi-stakeholders forum, organised by the Caribbean Initiative at the Atlantic Council, was held on Wednesday at the Guyana Marriott Hotel, Georgetown, where the United States Ambassador to Guyana Nicole Theriot, said the PACC 2030 initiative was created by the Vice President of the USA, Kamala Harris and is part of a commitment to enhancing the Caribbean’s security against climate change.
Last year, President Dr Irfaan Ali met with Mrs Harris and requested support for the country’s development.
With public and private sector partnerships at the forefront of this initiative, Ambassador Theriot noted that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) had made an initial US$20 million investment into the Caribbean Climate Investment Programme (CCIP). This is one of the programmes that fall under the PACC 2030 agenda, aimed at providing technical support and financing for the management of technology in renewable energy, energy efficiency and climate adaptation.
Meanwhile, the U.S. government has made a request to Congress for an additional $2 billion to boost concessional finance.
“The Caribbean Agriculture improvement activity works to improve food production technology, promote sustainable farming practices and smart climate practices, and also promotes market access for small farmers.
“USAID also launched a $4 million programme for sustainable financing for regional conservation that provides support and develops financial mechanisms for conservation funds and carbon credit facilities which is an interest here in Guyana,” the Ambassador said.
She also noted that there is the farmer-to-farmer programme which will enhance the skills farmers possess by having experts visit the country and conduct technical training.
The Inter-American Development Bank and Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) are also on board to assist with creating opportunities for businesses and citizens to withstand the effects of severe climate conditions.
The stark reality is that access to basic necessities, greenhouse gas impacts and other challenges is becoming a major issue for the world. Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud said the initiative offers a critical solution to these urgent matters.
“It identifies a number of interventions where we can have collaboration between the United States and Caribbean region and countries can constrain some of those challenges going forward.
“Take for instance the issue of having technology and agriculture technology in production, how it can deal with the issues of climate change, vulnerability addressing the issue of crop insurance and reducing the risk to our farmers,” the Foreign Secretary said.
Guyana has incorporated several initiatives to cushion the impact of resource and capacity limitations on citizens. Persaud said that food production and other related activities have become more climate resilient through government interventions.
Importantly, the advent of oil and gas in the country means that initiatives such as the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) to withstand greenhouse emissions had to be developed.
“Working with the Norwegian government we will be able to sell our forest climate services.
“[It] took $250 million [and] now in this current arrangement, LCDS 2030 whereby it takes into account other development including oil and gas, we have now been able to enter into a partnership with HESS,” Persaud said.
Persaud also reminded that instability in countries gives rise to tensions that lead to migration and debilitating situations.
