Making low carbon development a positive development Choice: lessons from Guyana

Abstract

This statement delivered by The Honorable Jennifer Webster Deputy Minister of Finance, Republic of Guyana at the climate change conference. Ms.Webster, on her remarks highlighted that, Putting “development first” is right for moral reasons. Africa and the rest of the developing world didn’t cause climate change, we suffer the most from it, and we should not be expected to bear an unfair burden in dealing with it, especially in the absence of action from the world’s major polluter. The idea that “development first” is somehow a developing world argument is false. Guyana stands ready to work in solidarity with Africa – we are already very proud of the fact that we have started a strong south-south partnership with Minister Njombo and our friends from the Congo.