Gov’t gets US$1.5M for completion of ‘Green State’ strategy

The Guyana government has received approval for the release of US$1.5 million ($300 million) from the Guyana REDD+Investment Fund (GRIF) to finance the development of its Green State Development Strategy.

In a statement that was issued on Thursday, the Ministry of the Presidency said that the financing was approved by the GRIF Steering Committee, following the submission of a detailed proposal and work plan. (The GRIF is the vehicle for receiving payments made to Guyana from its forests partnership with Norway.)

It added that the financing also provides coverage for the development of the GSDS Coordination Desk, which will be staffed by Guyanese citizens, working in collaboration with the Department of the Environment (DoE) and United Nations Environment Programme, to ensure the timely development of the GSDS.

The ministry also noted that the development of the GSDS will be completed by June, 2018.

It had previously said that the strategy would be completed by early next year, following nationwide consultations.

According to a framework for the GSDS that was released in April, the strategy is expected to guide Guyana’s economic and sociocultural development over the next 15 years. “It will lay the foundations for inclusive green economic growth, provide a roadmap for achieving sustainable development targets, and outline a long term vision for a prosperous and equitable future,” it explained. “The objective of the strategy is to reorient and diversify Guyana’s economy, reducing reliance on traditional sectors and opening up new sustainable income and investment opportunities in higher value adding and higher growth sectors,” it added.

It also said that the GSDS will identify and make policy recommendations on a number of legal and institutional actions that might be carried out to allow the transition to a green state.

Thursday’s statement said nationwide consultations and stakeholders’ feedback will guide the development of the seven major themes of the strategy: 1) Green inclusive, structural transformation; 2) Sustainable management of natural resources; 3) Energy – transition towards renewable energy; 4) Resilient infrastructure and spatial development; 5) Human development and wellbeing; 6) Governance and institutional foundations; and, 7) International cooperation, trade and investment.. Sat Sun Oct 14, 2017 Oct 15, 2017 12:35 - 14:05 hrs 13:30 - 15:00 hrs

It added that the Ministry of the Presidency, through the DoE, is currently working with governmental and non-governmental entities on an education and awareness campaign to raise awareness of the framework document, thereby ensuring that planned consultations and engagements over the next 12 to 18 months are informed and constructive. The framework document is presently available online at the ministry’s website (www.motp.gov.gy) and the DoE’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/DeptEnv).