Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud reiterated the call for CO2 reductions of at least 45% by 2020 and 95% by 2050 among Annex 1 (developed countries) in order to stem the effects of climate change, at a special Caricom Ministers Meeting on Climate Change and Development held recently in St Lucia.

Robert Persaud

According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release Persaud also underscored the importance of the upcoming 15th Conference of Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). He noted that it had the potential to go down in history as the agreement that enabled the global community to change course from the destructive path it has taken. But Persaud also noted that the negotiations lack agreement on important matters. “The UNFCCC negotiations remain in a deadlock due to a lack of consensus on critical issues. Unfortunately, even at the level of the geographical groupings such as G77, disagreements persist. Within Caricom, we must not let difference of opinions weaken our cause,” he said.

The minister also referred to the consensus that was reached at a recently held Caricom Heads of Government meeting. “Our deliberations at this important meeting must give specifics to the broad outline and serve as a useful and uncompromising guide for our negotiators,” he said. The primacy of the Liliendaal Declaration on Climate Change and Development cannot be overstated in this process and our positions must be consistent he added.

According to GINA, Persaud noted that small-island and low-lying coastal developing states are highly vulnerable to the effects of rising sea levels and he cautioned that efforts must be made to intensify the lobby for adaptation and related capacity building. “Our level of vulnerability must be a key criterion that is to be taken into account. A multi-window insurance facility, as well as adequate and predictable financing for adaptation must be made available to us as soon as possible,” he said. The minister also contended that enhanced investment and action in research and development, diffusion and transfer of technology for adaptation including the removal of barriers that exist in overly stringent intellectual property rights were necessary. “Highly vulnerable and still developing countries, such as ours should be exempted from patent protection of climate-related technologies for adaptation and mitigation,” he said.

The call for deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions based on scientific evidence that climate change is accelerating faster than originally predicted, was another reason Persaud cited for the region to be steadfast. With deforestation and forest degradation accounting for almost one fifth of all greenhouse gas emissions, the minister underscored the importance of a forest-based solution to mitigation. He also referred to Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy.

The Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) programme, which offers the opportunity to use funding from developed countries to reduce deforestation in developing countries, can only be effective if “significant” financial resources are available, Persaud said.