Guyana's Low Carbon Development Strategy

Course Information

• Course title: Environment and Development in Guyana & the Caribbean
• Course code: ENV 1102
• Instructor: Ronn Sullivan
• Date: November 15, 2024
• Department: Environmental Studies
• University: University of Guyana

National and Regional Environmental Development Strategies

• Objectives:
  • Rationale for Action plans and sustainable development strategies
  • Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030

Recap

• Topics covered:
  • Defined theories and concepts
  • Agriculture and the Environment
  • Industries and the environment
  • Urbanisation and the environment
  • Climate Change and environment
  • WEF security Nexus
  • Environmental Development Strategies

Rationale for Sustainable Development Plans

• A sustainable development strategy provides an overarching vision and policy framework for long-term sustainability
• An action plan offers detailed, task-specific steps to implement aspects of a strategy, typically short to medium term
• Together, these form a comprehensive approach to sustainable development. The strategy guides the direction, while the action plan drives the on-the-ground implementation.

Rationale for Sustainable Development Strategies and Actions

• Governmental commitment to address pressing challenges and promote sustainable development is rooted in the global commitment to sustainable development.
• International agreements contribute to global commitment and influence individual nation's actions.
• The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is the primary and most comprehensive international agreement; it has 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with 169 targets covering economic, social, and environmental dimensions

Rationale for Sustainable Development Strategies and Actions (cont.)

• The 2030 Agenda emphasizes national ownership and the role of countries in adapting global goals to their context through national sustainable development strategies.
• Member States are encouraged to integrate SDGs into national planning processes and policies.
• The Paris Agreement underscores commitment to limit global temperature rise and enhance adaptation capacity, encouraging long-term low-emission development strategies (LT-LEDS).

Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030

• Goals and objectives:
  • Value ecosystem services
  • Invest in clean energy and stimulate low carbon growth
  • Protect against climate change and biodiversity loss
  • Align with global climate and biodiversity goals

Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030 (cont.)

• The LCDS is a framework to map a new growth trajectory in a non-polluting way
• The goal is to enable people in forested areas to generate jobs, value forest ecosystem services, and generate economic opportunities through growth that works with nature, rather than at its expense.
• The LCDS framework targets four inter-linked objectives related to ecosystem services, clean energy, low carbon growth and climate change and biodiversity loss.

Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030 (cont.)

• The LCDS 2030 is the result of a seven-month national consultation.
• It details how Guyana will maintain forests while growing its economy five-fold in 10 years.
• Eight chapters define the strategy's approach.

Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030 (cont.)

• Ecosystem services economy: Focus on new revenues from forest, climate services and other ecosystem services
• Guyana aims to remain true to its 2009 vision
• Includes expanded vision to include other globally significant ecosystem services
• Seeks sustainable and equitable development in Guyana while enabling the country to play a vital role in protecting globally essential ecosystems.
• Includes water management and biodiversity protection

Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030 (cont.)

• Expanding protected areas, partnering with International Center for Biodiversity Research, and nurturing a sustainable ocean economy will also be essential for Guyana's long-term growth.

Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030 (cont.)

• Carbon markets are a priority for generating revenue and incentives for forest services
• Carbon markets are the most mature mechanism for ecosystem services market
• Implementing a bilateral agreement and market-based mechanisms with a focus on REDD+ will be a three-phase process
• Revenues generated from this process are intended to be invested in the LCDS

Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030 (cont.)

• Stimulating future growth and clean energy are goals
• The country plans to transition away from HFO/diesel to renewable energy sources such as natural gas, hydropower, solar, wind, and biomass, potentially reaching a five fold increase in energy use.
• This will involve building new natural gas-powered facilities and expanding renewables, while maintaining stability of the power grid

Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030 (cont.)

• A 300MW gas-fired power plant is slated for construction and operation by 2025
• The reliability of the grid will increase as new capacity is introduced, significantly reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions

Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030 (cont.)

• Utility-scale hydropower projects are planned to produce significant clean energy.
• Hydropower projects (including Amaila Falls) are intended to provide the country with the potential for 8.5 Gigawatts (GW) of hydropower over 20 years.
• Solar PV is projected to be established as a mature technology, while local technology providers will be crucial for installing facilities

Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030 (cont.)

• The government has secured funding for 8 different isolated grids to implement solar PV, with 30 percent of the electricity in isolated grids generated by solar PV

Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030 (cont.)

• Promoting policies to encourage consumer choice
• Self-generation of renewable energy is supported through fiscal incentives

Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030 (cont.)

• Preventing and Managing Waste: Creating a Circular Economy: The strategy focuses on keeping resources in use, extracting maximum value, and recovering resources for regeneration

Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030 (cont.)

• Sustainable Homes and Communities: The strategy highlights the potential for sustainable homes and communities in both rural and urban environments, including considerations for specific communities like Amerindians

Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030 (cont.)

• Expanded Sustainable Economic Sectors: The strategy emphasizes expanding sectors like agriculture, fisheries, sustainable forestry, low-impact mining, tourism, and manufacturing/services

Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030 (cont.)

• Low-carbon Infrastructure: The strategy plans to transition from traditional petroleum/diesel vehicles to more affordable transportation options, including electric and lower-carbon public and private transportation methods.
• Digital infrastructure and financial infrastructure are also key focus areas

Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030 (cont.)

• Climate-compatible health and education services
• Protecting against climate change and biodiversity loss: Implementation of the Climate Resilience and Adaptation Strategy (CRSAP), to establish a comprehensive and adaptable framework for resilience and adaptability

Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030 (cont.)

• Aligning with global climate goals: Oil and gas revenue management is emphasized, along with Guyana's support for international targets of net-zero and reduction in global oil demand

Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030 (cont.)

• Involving all Guyanese in the low carbon development: A national consultative process, Multi-Stakeholder Steering Committee, national budgeting process, communication, and awareness-raising initiatives

Green State Development Strategy

• Collaborative effort between Guyana and the United Nations (UN) to guide economic and socio-cultural development, emphasizing a green economy approach for sustainable development goals

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Voluntary Review Reports

• Voluntary national reviews (VNRs) are an important United Nations process for reviewing and monitoring progress toward adoption of development agendas.
• The process is voluntary, transparent, participatory, and based on robust evidence, aiming for accountability and learning to citizens.

Explore the key components and expected outcomes of Guyana's Low Carbon Development Strategy. This quiz covers various aspects of clean energy transition, natural gas initiatives, and hydropower capacity, providing insights into sustainable development practices in Guyana.