UNITED NATIONS – Guyana Wednesday announced the launch of a Global Biodiversity Alliance and will host the inaugural summit of that alliance focusing on creating a market for biodiversity credits.
President Dr Irfaan Ali, addressing the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), said that the summit to be held in 2025, will also focus on scaling biodiversity conservation debt swaps, accelerating biodiversity bonds, establishing a blueprint for biodiversity taxonomies, and promoting nature positive action.
“We do not make this announcement by mere words. Guyana is also committed to doubling its protected areas by December 2025 and achieving the global biodiversity target of 30 per cent by 2030.
“These are real solutions that Guyana is putting forward to address the global problem of biodiversity loss. We do not lecture, we lead by example without arrogance,” Ali told the global community.
He said the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) estimates that Guyana is one of the world’s most important countries for biodiversity density, straddling two of the richest biodiversity zones, the Guiana Shield and the Amazon.
“As a country, we are dedicated to the preservation of this vital global asset. I especially salute the Indigenous Peoples of Guyana, the Amerindians, who are the foremost stewards of this great natural heritage. We recognise their leadership and 15 per cent of all revenues earned from carbon sales are directly transferred to our Indigenous communities.”
But he said even with its new found natural resource of oil and gas, it would require less than 20 per cent of sequestered carbon to offset Guyana’s emissions at maximum output.
“ We have preserved our biodiversity and know its value. We believe it is only fair and just that this global asset be monetized in a fair carbon market,” Ali said.
In his wide ranging speech that covered issues such as the ongoing war in Gaza, Russia’s invasion of Ukrane, as well as climate change and human rights violations, Ali said that the United Nations must continue to be a beacon of hope amidst a turbulent global environment.
He said the theme of this year’s UNGA, “Leaving no one behind: acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development, and human dignity for present and future generations” resonates with the vision set out in the United Nations Charter.
But he acknowledged “this vision demands decisive action and enlightened multilateralism.
“Today, we find ourselves in a world where the quest for peace is met with the defiant echo of conflict, where the promise of sustainable development is eclipsed by the dangerous spectre of climate change and food insecurity, and where the dignity of millions of people is trampled upon with impunity.
“In Ukraine, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of a nation are being violated. Yet, decisive action by the United Nations Security Council remains fettered by the veto. Justice demands that we defend the territorial integrity of all States – large, small, powerful and weak.”
Ali said equally concerning is the conflict in Sudan which rages on with devastating consequences for the people of that country, including famine and mass displacement.
“This conflict will continue to undermine efforts to achieve lasting peace and sustainable development,” Ali said, calling for the UNGA to also condemn the continued oppression and persecution by the Taliban of women and girls in Afghanistan who face, not just lack of access to education and restrictions on their movements, but now even their voices cannot be heard in public.
He told the global community that in the Caribbean region, the 15-mermber Caribbean Community (CARICOM) grouping has been actively supporting a Haitian-led process for the restoration of democracy, peace and stability in Haiti.
“We welcome the deployment of the UN authorized Multinational Security Support Mission, led by Kenya, as a crucial step towards stabilizing the security situation. We call on the international community to urgently scale up financing for the MSS and secure its renewed authorization so that the Mission can succeed.
“We must also address the dire humanitarian situation where almost half of Haiti’s population suffers from acute hunger, mass displacement, and women and girls are enduring brutal violence, including sexual violence.”
Ali said that Guyana is leading CARICOM’s efforts in mobilizing humanitarian support for Haiti and that he would be reaching out to the international for its support.
“We must stay the course with our Haitian brothers and sisters in their quest for durable peace and sustainable development. The people of Haiti deserve nothing less.”
Ali said also that the situation in Cuba also needs to be examined as the rights of the people there to development continues to be stymied by the economic embargo.
“Guyana renews its call for revocation of the embargo and the removal of Cuba from the list of State sponsors of terrorism,” Ali said, adding that the United Nations has a special responsibility for the security of small states.
“Small States look to multilateralism and the rule of international law to protect them from foreign aggression,” Ali said, as he updated the international community on the ongoing border dispute between his country and Venezuela.
“Guyana is a small state that has had to contend with aggression from the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela for all 58 years of our nationhood. International law and its strict application have been our armour and our shield in our determination to protect ourselves from this aggression.
“We remind this august Assembly that the border between Guyana and Venezuela was fully, finally and perfectly settled in an 1899 award by an international tribunal. Venezuela was fully represented in that tribunal whose award it proclaimed in its own Congress and welcomed for more than six decades, before reopening the issue on the eve of Guyana’s independence, claiming two-thirds of our territory.”
Ali said that this controversy, initiated by Venezuela, was submitted by Guyana to the International Court of Justice (the ICJ) in accordance with a decision of the United Nations Secretary General and consistent with our position to settle this matter by legal and peaceful means.
He said in 2023, in light of intensified acts of aggression by Venezuela, the ICJ issued provisional measures stating that pending a final decision in the case, Venezuela shall refrain from taking any action which would modify the situation that currently prevails in the territory in dispute, whereby Guyana administers and exercises control over that area.
Ali said after years of refusing to participate in the proceedings of the ICJ and stating that it does not recognize the jurisdiction of the Court, the Venezuelan government has now submitted a counter memorial to Guyana’s submission.
“We welcome Venezuela’s decision to participate in the Court’s proceedings, and express the hope that Venezuela will accept the decision of the Court, as Guyana has long pledged to do
“I reaffirm Guyana’s unwavering commitment to a peaceful resolution of this long-standing controversy in full conformity with international law and the principles set forth in the United Nations Charter,” Ali told the UNGA. (CMC)
