December 2007
A Tale Of Two Countries
It was not quite the best of times nor the worst of times, but the tale of two countries proposing a radical solution to climate change is both groundbreaking and fascinating in equal measure.
Guyana, is home to just under a million people and is one of the world’s poorest countries. Involved in territorial disputes with its neighbours and entangled in deforestation concerns, it is not immediately obvious what the former British colony could offer the UK in terms of truly equal, bilateral trade.
The Guyanan government however thought it obvious and proceeded to offer the opportunity to the British of leading the world’s largest carbon offset. The proposition was that in exchange for the development aid and technical assistance required for Guyana’s transition to a successful green economy, its entire standing forest would be placed under the control of a British led international body.
Stating that Guyana was offering the UK a "moral offset" and a chance to further demonstrate its international green credentials, President Jagdeo insisted that he wasn’t trying to strong arm the British government, but rather just being honest: "I’m not doing this just because I’m a good man and want to save the world, I need the assistance." That is not to say though, that the rewards are insubstantial. Tropical deforestation counts for 20% of all carbon emissions, second only to the energy sector, but by proportion receives far less coverage than more immediately apparent emission producing sectors.
Highlighting Britain’s leading role in securing debt relief for developing countries and the prominent role of the environment in civil society, the President felt that the British would be receptive to his proposition. And it is a serious proposition, as could be seen by his increasing frustration with the slow pace of change: "It infuriates me when I hear lofty speeches and back-patting in the developed world… despite Stern, we are wondering whether they really believe that avoiding deforestation is the most cost-effective way to combat climate change" (referring to one of the Stern report’s conclusions that forest provide the largest and most cost effective method of reducing carbon emissions.)
Upon receiving the Guyanan offer, the Brown government acknowledged that it was "under consideration", whilst Shadow Environment Secretary Peter Ainsworth backed the idea, suggesting that the "neglected piece of the [deforestation] jigsaw" could find an answer in the Guyanan model. Environmentalists have been quick to back his confidence in the scheme, pointing to Guyana’s pioneering Iwokrama international reserve whereby in 1989 the country gifted one million acres of rainforest to the Commonwealth, which has subsequently become a successful model for natural resource protection and management projects.
And after due consideration, the PR opportunity to reclaim the spotlight after Australian Kyoto protocol ratification, and a deep rooted and genuine interest, the Environment Secretary finally announced at the start of the Bali conference, that Britain will be backing Guyana’s novel plan. Mr Woolas confirmed that "the UK government sees this as a significant and welcome step. While we repect countries’ sovereignty, the offer from President Jagdeo is a groundbreaker and we will be looking at it at an official level to see what part Britain can play."
In spite of the rhetoric, Britain already has agreements for forest protection within the Congo basin and pilot projects in Brazil and Indonesia, funded from a £50m DFID pot. On the back of the £800m Environmental Transformation Fund recently created by the government, there is a feeling that the incumbent Prime Minister has the potential to be very generous indeed when it comes to climate change. Indeed, Matthew Owen, director of the Cool Earth pressure group suggested that the Guyana proposal could be given to UK tax payers as a Christmas present. However, the Environment Secretary remained cautious when addressing the issue of money, suggesting an internationalist, holistic approach:
"We now need to start working together to harness the resources and innovation of global capital markets, who will provide the long-term answer to avoiding deforestation. We can present the world with a model for addressing the root causes of deforestation."
Even so, this tale of two countries is has become a firm favourite for the author.
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