Remarks by Hon. Robert M. Persaud, MBA, MP, Minister of Agriculture at  Project Signing – Enabling Activities for the Preparation of the Second National Communication,

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

The Government of Guyana would like to thank UNDP for providing this assistance to Guyana meeting its obligations to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Guyana is a signatory to the Climate Change Convention. As a requirement, Guyana prepared and submitted its Initial National Communication in April 2002 to the Conference of Parties of the Convention (COP).

This 3 Year Project between the UNDP and Government of Guyana, to the tune of some U.S$455 000 will assist in preparing the Second National Communication to the COP. 

Among the main components of the project are:

(a) An inventory of greenhouse gases

(b) Programmes containing measures to facilitate adequate adaptation and mitigation to climate change

(c) Collecting Essential Information related to the implementation of the Convention (technology needs assessment, public awareness, Information related to integration of climate change into local and regional policies)

The activities as part of this project are a continuation of work which was started in the first national communication. This project is expected to aid in building capacity as well as enhancing public awareness with regards to climate change and will also facilitate placing climate change issues higher on the national agenda and increase the involvement of all stakeholders on issues related to climate change.

This project will be implemented through the Climate Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture, with guidance from the National Climate Committee and the involvement of several sector Agencies and line Ministries. In its implementation, Government expects that the project will primarily utilize local and regional expertise, to aid with project activities as it relates to implementation and will work closely with the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC), as well as linking with the Mainstreaming Adaptation to Climate Change Project (MACC), the Caribbean Renewable Energy Development Programme (CREDP), the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA) and other relevant organizations and initiatives relating to climate change within the region. 

The Government of Guyana fully supports this project which falls within the wider framework of poverty reduction and sustainable development. At a time when climate issues are high on the global agenda, we see this project contributing in a substantial way to Guyana’s efforts to prepare and respond to climate change.

On behalf of the Government I would like to thank UNDP for their support, during the preparation of the project, and to encourage continued support in its implementation.

July 10, 2007