Guyana and Jamaica urge global approach to climate change at UN conference
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| Published on Monday, May 18, 2009 |
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GEORGETOWN, Guyana -- The United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development concluded its 17th session on Friday with concrete policy options to drive practicable actions on agriculture, rural development, land, drought and desertification.
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| Guyana President Bharrat Jagdeo. AFP PHOTO |
During a high-level segment last week, Guyana's President Bharrat Jagdeo, a climate change activist, said while raising awareness is vital, it is not enough to achieve sustainable development. He says as an international community, we need to turn this awareness into solutions that make the difference we urgently require.
Jamaica’s Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Christopher Tufton said climate change is the single most urgent threat confronting Small Island developing States
Tufton speaking on behalf of the Alliance of Small island States (AOSIS) said it attached great importance to the work of the Commission on Sustainable Development.
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries says it affords small island states the opportunity to highlight issues of critical concern to them, adding that these hurricanes reverse significant development gains achieved over many years - a scenario which underlines the extreme vulnerability small island developing states face.
In advancing CARICOM’s regional agriculture and food security agenda, Jagdeo said the region stands ready to work with countries and institutions in an effort to address the challenge of food security through its agriculture and food security agenda.
The Guyanese leader said, “To ensure future global food security requires a partnership that brings together the best science, adequate resources and a coherent set of international trade and other policies. Such partnerships that emphasize cross border collaboration and coordination as CARICOM countries have sought to do with its regional food security programme.”
People are aware of the problem the world will face if it does not rise to the challenge of becoming food sufficient for future generations, he said, since 85 percent of the world will face some water shortage by 2030.
He explained that with less forest available for conversion to agriculture and growing desertification there will be a reduction in available arable land for agriculture as these factors will constrain production while demand will increase from a growing world population.
Measures to reposition agriculture in the region have since been introduced that resulted in the establishment of an Agricultural Modernization Fund, improved land policy and administration, research expansion, improved drainage and irrigation infrastructure, disaster preparedness programmes and the regional coordination of marketing activities to enhance agricultural trade. These measures, he said, are positioned to revitalize Caribbean agriculture and remove key binding constraints to the development of the sector.
The president expressed the need for coherent global policies to help secure global food supplies over the long-term. He said however, this will not be achieved without the meaningful reform of multilateral institutions and the creation of a new international policy environment since the challenge of food security is not confined to national boundaries, but is becoming increasingly global in scope.
In this context “the countries with the available land and freshwater resources can play a special role in addressing the food security challenge at both the regional and global levels,” he said.
Jagdeo further emphasized that sustainable development is no longer just a slogan or a rallying cry for a campaign but is now recognized as essential to the future well being of the world’s people, the global economy and life itself.
He added that this year will test the world’s resolve. “Will we move boldly to create a new global financial infrastructure and climate agreement to put the world onto a more sustainable track...or will we retreat in the face of the magnitude of the challenge? “What is needed is political will... let’s work together to ensure that the world makes the right choice,” he encouraged.
The head of the UN climate change negotiations believes there is still a strong commitment to reach an agreement in Copenhagen at the end of this year. But Yvo de Boer says that agreement will not be easy to reach.
He cited the limited time remaining for negotiations. At the same time he added, it is essential that Copenhagen delivers clarity on four issues.
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