Updated September 9, 2021
United kingdom’s Minister of State for Business, Energy and Clean Growth, Anne-Marie Trevelyan says bringing gas to shore to support Guyana’s energy needs is a huge step forward for the country to improve the cost of power.
Trevelyan made the comment after a recent tour of the Mahaica River in Guyana to see the wildlife. She’s been told that months ago, heavy rainfall caused the river to breach its banks, thereby flooding homes and farmlands and that Guyana remains prone to such disasters that threaten the stability of its ecosystems.
The South American country is one stop on her way through a few Caribbean countries most vulnerable to the changing climate, as part of her duties to the United Nations Climate Change Conference, otherwise known as the 26th annual Conference of Parties (COP26).
As the United Kingdom is hosting the Conference in November, Trevelyan is the UK’s International Champion for Adaptation and Resilience for the COP26 Presidency. Her role is to work with states and other actors, pushing for greater action and financing towards adaptation and resilience.
She posited that the gas-to-energy project will also lower emissions.
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“It’s a much cleaner energy than the diesel generators you use. So, the transition that we all have to make as a planet to a cleaner net zero, is exactly that, and I think the opportunity to bring gas to Guyana is a really important one,” she said.
Trevelyan has already met with Guyana’s President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali and other government officials to learn about the challenges the country faces in pursuing its green initiatives while looking to further economic development.
“(I had) some really interesting conversations,” she said as regards, “learning from them what’s important and what’s difficult as they – your government – try to make sure that they can bring the economic growth that the country wants to see and protect it and make sure that a low carbon future is part of Guyana’s forward thinking (process),” she said. “I’m here to listen and to understand and to take back the concerns and try to make sure that as we coordinate the [COP26] presidency, we make sure those voices are really clearly heard.”
COP26 is scheduled to take place in November. Guyana is expected to send a delegation, led by Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo.
