Guyana is once again stepping onto the international stage with bold ambition, this time to ensure that biodiversity protection takes its rightful place at the centre of the global climate agenda.
President Dr Irfaan Ali, speaking on the United for Biodiversity on Friday, reaffirmed Guyana’s commitment to championing biodiversity as a critical global issue, urging that it be treated with the same urgency as forests and carbon markets.
“We have managed to keep the richness of our biodiversity intact, while globally more than 50% of biodiversity has been lost in the last 50 years,” President Ali pointed out.
“It is time the world pays attention and finds real policy and market mechanisms to support and safeguard biodiversity — here in Guyana and around the world.”
Guyana’s push comes as the country prepares to host a major biodiversity summit in July, expected to bring together world leaders, academics, philanthropists, scientists and development experts. The goal is to craft a robust global framework to guide policy, funding and market solutions that protect nature’s wealth while advancing prosperity for people.
Guyana has already won international praise for its pioneering its Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) — a plan that has positioned the country as a climate leader while demonstrating how to balance environmental stewardship with economic growth.
First conceptualised by then President (now Vice President) Bharrat Jagdeo, the LCDS is more than a carbon strategy — it is a comprehensive national development blueprint that has attracted support from institutions such as the World Bank and IMF.
“The LCDS is not just an environmental plan; it’s a national development strategy that shows the world prosperity and sustainability can go hand in hand,” President Ali explained.
“It empowers our Indigenous communities directly, protects our forests, and now, with biodiversity front and centre, it expands that vision even further.”
A key ambition of the upcoming summit is to tackle the thorny issue of financing. President Ali was frank about the shortcomings of existing climate pledges, calling instead for credible market-based solutions.
“We’re tired of pledges that don’t materialise,” he said.
“Guyana has shown how to move beyond talk — we’ve created a product, a mechanism, a formula through the LCDS and carbon credits. Now, we must do the same for biodiversity. This means assessing and valuing our biodiversity asset, creating a pricing mechanism and a supportive market structure that truly rewards its protection.”
By building this model, Guyana hopes to inspire a new international framework that treats biodiversity as an economic asset — one that can generate sustainable livelihoods while preserving ecosystems for generations to come.
Crucially, President Ali said the outcomes of the July summit will feed directly into the next major UN climate conference (COP) in Brazil. He underscored that Guyana will work with allies — including Brazil — to ensure biodiversity makes it to the top of the global agenda.
“Tropical forests were never on the COP agenda until Guyana led that fight. Now, we are taking up this new international responsibility — to have biodiversity recognised as a central pillar in climate and development talks,” he said.
With its rich forests, intact ecosystems and proven track record of converting green assets into real economic benefits, Guyana is poised to help the world find solutions that protect nature while delivering prosperity.
As President Ali put it: “Guyana is not only ready to lead — we are showing how to act. Biodiversity must be treated as a global asset that supports life, livelihoods, and the balance of our planet.”
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