Efforts are underway to prepare Guyana’s Second National Communication (SNC) aimed at strengthening the country’s institutional and technical capacity to meet its obligations to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
According to the Government Information Agency (GINA) government signed the agreement for preparation and submission of the SNC with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on June 10, 2007 and it is expected that the project will be completed within three years.
At the opening of the national inception workshop and launch of the SNC on Thursday last at the Hotel Tower, Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud said it was important to assess Guyana’s statues as regards its vulnerability to climate change. He said the SNC “comes at an opportune time because it will enhance our ability to better understand what our current risks are from climate change and help to mitigate and adapt to these changes more effectively.”
The project is estimated at US$455,000. Its main objectives are to assess and document the national circumstances of the country; create an inventory of greenhouse gases from base year 2000 and plan programmes containing measures to facilitate adequate adaptation to climate change. It also targets other relevant information such as technology needs assessment, research and systematic observation and public awareness; identifying constraints and gaps relating to financial, technical and capacity needs.
The ministry, through the National Climate Unit (NCU) is implementing the project. It will be managed by a project coordinator and an administrative assistant. A project steering committee comprising members of the National Climate Committee and UNDP will provide overall guidance, technical and other support.
According to GINA, reference was also made to the implications of climate change, which has been cited as one of the main drivers of the current food shortage and price increases worldwide. It is therefore thought that a strong collaboration aimed at devising a plan of actions to address the impact is necessary.
Guyana is also pursuing initiatives such as the Conservancy Adaptation Project, completion of the Mahaica-Mahaicony-Abary agricultural scheme phase II (for which discussions are being held with the Japanese government) and agricultural diversification. A decision was taken to undertake these projects after the 2005 flood resulted in the loss of 60% of the agricultural GDP.
GINA said this forced increased expenditure on drainage and irrigation is to ensure that the systems are redesigned and strengthened to better deal with climate change. Focus is being placed on improved techniques, practices, technology and systems to aid this sector. Additionally, in traditional sectors such as rice and sugar, other methodologies are being explored including updating machinery to maximise the use of opportunity days in the sugar sector and introduction of varieties of rice that can withstand the current weather patterns.
UNDP Resident Representative, Aboubacry Tall, Permanent Secretary at the ministry Dr Dindyal Permaul, chairman of the NCU Shyam Nokta and Presidential Adviser on the Environment and Sustainable Development Navin Chandarpal also spoke at the workshop.
