By Staff Reporter
AS the world struggles with the quicker-than-anticipated climate emergency, Guyana has shown itself to be a 鈥榞reen鈥 leader. It shows that economic growth and sustainable development need not be mutually exclusive.
Through the vision of President Dr. Irfaan Ali, the country is not only discussing preserving biodiversity, but is also practising it by building tangible solutions that translate environmental stewardship into economic opportunity.
In the last 50 years, the world lost over 50% of its biodiversity, yet Guyana retained its high biodiversity, and built its economy. It has retained over 85% of its forest cover, and has its Low-Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030 as a national development and environmental plan. In this, Guyana is demonstrating that wealth creation and nature conservation can go hand in hand.
It is the focus on actions rather than rhetoric that distinguishes Guyana. While the global world keeps promising at various COP meetings without much to account for, Guyana has developed effective products and programmes that function. The nation鈥檚 ground-breaking carbon credit scheme has to date generated over $4.7 billion for Indigenous communities, proving that natural resources can be turned into income for people, fairly and effectively.
This is being expanded by the Global Biodiversity Alliance, a new initiative President Ali introduced at the United Nations General Assembly. The following Global Biodiversity Alliance Summit, to be held July 23-25, 2025 in Georgetown is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to establish an international market for biodiversity credits. It also aims to establish quantifiable targets for biodiversity conservation.
The goals of the summit are lofty, but within reach. They include creating new financial tools like biodiversity credits, 鈥榞reen鈥 bonds, and debt-for-nature swaps, along with supporting the 30脳30 Goal of conserving at least 30% of the world鈥檚 lands and oceans by 2030. Perhaps most significantly, it will formally integrate biodiversity into climate negotiations and financing at future COP meetings. This action ensures biodiversity gets the global attention that it so rightly deserves.
President Ali鈥檚 frustration with the international community鈥檚 lack of action is evident and valid. 鈥淲e鈥檙e tired of pledges that don鈥檛 materialise,鈥 he stated plainly. The world has seen many environmental summits and declarations, yet biodiversity loss continues to speed up.
Guyana provides a refreshing alternative by creating real financial tools that reward conservation while supporting sustainable livelihoods. The economic system Guyana has built is a special one, as it has direct dividends to the Indigenous population.
Indigenous communities, which have protected the forest for centuries, receive direct payments through carbon credit sales. The funding enables them to fund over 1,700 life-changing projects in 242 villages. This model recognises that conservation of the environment and social justice go hand in hand. The market forces Guyana is developing for biodiversity fit exactly into global trends towards nature-based solutions and economic valuation of natural resources.
As the world鈥檚 ecosystems become increasingly more appreciated for economic reasons, Guyana鈥檚 model offers a pragmatic way to boost finance for biodiversity without sacrificing environmental health and equity. Critics would argue that commodifying nature has the potential to simplify sophisticated ecosystems.
But Guyana鈥檚 experience demonstrates that valuing and paying for the delivery of ecosystem services can provide powerful incentives for conservation. The alternative, assuming that biodiversity is a free good, has proven widely unsuccessful, as evidenced by the cataclysmic collapse of species and habitats on our planet.
The timing of this biodiversity initiative by Guyana is imperative. The financing gap for biodiversity at the global level is estimated at $598-$824 billion yearly. Innovative market solutions are essential to raise the funds required for conservation. Guyana鈥檚 position in this realm allows the country to influence global environmental policy, and derive significant benefits from its natural resources.
While the world is gearing up for COP30 in Brazil, Guyana鈥檚 biodiversity summit will yield important lessons and actionable advice on mainstreaming biodiversity into climate finance. The product of this summit not only accrues benefits for Guyana, but can serve as a model for other nations with high biodiversity levels and wanting to achieve a balance between development and conservation.
Guyana鈥檚 shift from climate pioneer to biodiversity trailblazer is not just policy innovation, but a fundamental change in the way we understand human-nature relations. By its example of how natural resources can create sustainable wealth while preserving ecosystems for future generations, Guyana is not only setting an example, but creating a new model for global environmental governance.
The world should take notice. Amid a climate crisis and global loss of biodiversity, Guyana鈥檚 pragmatic vision holds the promise of an economic future when prosperity and greenery are mutually reinforcing strategies and not competitive goals. The only question is not whether other nations will follow Guyana鈥檚 example, but whether they can afford not to.