Prime Minister of Barbados and recipient of the 2021 Champions of the Earth Award Mia Mottley is expected to be one of the most highly anticipated speakers headlining the International Energy Conference and Expo-2022 which will be held from February 15-18 at the Guyana Marriott Hotel.
President of Guyana, Dr. Irfaan Ali will deliver the keynote address at the opening of the event.
According to organisers, Prime Minister Mottley’s presence will be significant given her passionate stance on climate change and its impact on small island states. The Prime Minister is expected to be well-received at the opening of the conference which focuses on a wide range of issues that impact the future of the hydrocarbon industry.
At the 2020 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, Prime Minister Mottley captivated world leaders with her attention-grabbing speech on the need for serious action to be taken on climate change.
Mottley highlighted as well that the failure to provide critical climate finance to small island developing states (SIDS) at the frontline of climate change is measured in the lives and livelihoods of their communities. She urged world leaders to increase ambitions and “try harder” since a 2-degree Celsius rise in global temperature would be a “death sentence” for island and coastal communities.
Prime Minister Mottley, for her fearless and gripping position on climate action, was subsequently awarded the 2021 Champions of the Earth Award, the United Nation’s highest environmental honour.
In light of her strong position, it is expected that she would continue to lead this charge at the conference.
Furthermore, Prime Minister Mottley is also among two other Heads of State slated to speak at the event. President of Suriname, Chandrikapersad Santokhi and Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo are also in the lineup.
The Guyanese President has articulated in recent months his administration’s unwavering commitment to play its part in climate change action as well as its plans to reduce emissions by 70 percent by 2030. This is clearly defined in the government’s Low Carbon Development Strategy-2030 draft that was launched in November 2021 for a four-month consultation with the citizenry.
Guyana’s Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo will deliver remarks at the formal opening of the exhibition. The feature address will be delivered by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chairman of ExxonMobil, Darren Woods.
