In his press conference held this afternoon, Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo seized the opportunity to confront what he perceives as glaring double standards in the global discourse on climate change. His impassioned remarks stemmed from a recent interview where Stephen Sackur, host of BBC’s HardTALK, engaged Guyana’s President, Irfaan Ali in a discussion on the nation’s oil and gas sector.
During the interview, Sackur posed provocative questions regarding Guyana’s burgeoning oil and gas industry, raising concerns about its potential environmental impact. He notably referred to Guyana as a potential “carbon bomb,” insinuating that the nation’s oil reserves could exacerbate climate change. This line of questioning prompted Jagdeo to address the broader issue of climate change hypocrisy among developed nations.
Jagdeo’s critique commenced with a pointed observation on the historical environmental transgressions of developed nations, singling out the United Kingdom (UK) for its extensive deforestation and disproportionately high carbon emissions. “The United Kingdom has cut down practically all of its primary forests. There are very little original forests anymore….Their per capita emission of carbon is higher than ours.,” Jagdeo declared, underscoring the hypocrisy inherent in affluent nations assuming a moral high ground.
Drawing attention to recent actions by the UK, including the opening of coal mines and the issuance of hundreds of oil exploration permits, Jagdeo questioned the sincerity of developed nations’ climate advocacy. “They’ve just opened some coal plants, the coal mines, when they were leading the charge in 2021– I think at the Glasgow COP to ban coal production,” he pointed out. “They’ve given permits for over 100 oil explorations. They’ve withdrawn from several of their international obligations.” he noted, punctuating his remarks with a call for accountability and introspection.
Responding to Sackur’s provocative insinuation that Guyana’s oil reserves could transform the nation into a “carbon bomb,” Jagdeo deftly redirected the narrative, emphasizing the pivotal role of consumption over production in addressing climate change. “Why don’t you stop consuming it? If you’re so concerned about climate change?” he challenged. “Why don’t you put on a carbon tax… to pay for the externalities?” he elucidated, challenging developed nations to confront their voracious energy appetites and adopt measures to curtail carbon emissions.
He added that to this day, Guyana is covered by 85 percent forest and remains among the countries with the lowest deforestation rates historically.
Jagdeo’s impassioned plea for equity and tangible action reverberated throughout the press conference, as he urged developed nations to implement robust carbon taxation mechanisms and expedite efforts to transition towards renewable energy sources. “If you’re worried about scope three emissions, it’s not where the oil is produced. It’s where it’s consumed.” he proclaimed, advocating for a collective and concerted global response to mitigate the existential threat posed by climate change.
As the world grapples with the urgent imperative of climate action, Jagdeo’s utterances serve as a clarion call for transformative change and genuine solidarity in safeguarding the planet for future generations.
