Climate Disasters Could Wipe Out 100% Of Guyana’s Coastal Agriculture  

 

• Environmentalists have long insisted that Guyana’s oil and gas would be better left unexploited due to the lopsided deal the country received for its largest oil block and more importantly, the environmental destruction caused during the production of the resources.
• The World Bank in its latest Fact Sheet on Guyana has warned that the country is at ‘high risk of climate-induced hazards’ as a result of the massive oil discoveries off the country’s coast. According to the report, heavy rainfall and related occurrences of flooding, sea level rise, and storm surges, especially in coastal areas are expected in Guyana.
• “Guyana’s contribution to climate change is expected to increase due to the oil and gas discovery, which could ultimately hinder growth and development efforts in the country if left unchecked,” the global institution pointed out.
• The World Bank was also keen to note that, “Guyana’s coastal plain strip lies below the mean high tide mark and has historically suffered flooding from both Atlantic storm surges and heavy rains.” Consequently, Guyana’s efforts to become the ‘food basket of the Caribbean’ – given its role in reducing the Region’s Food Import Bill by 25% by 2025 – could be hindered due to the massive oil and gas projects that are to be pursued.
• Notwithstanding, the financial institution noted that the country’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030 outlines substantial measures to support green resilient growth, including increased protection for the standing forests and investments in renewable energy sources such as hydropower and solar energy.

(Source: Kaieteur News)