Guyana President Irfaan Ali told a British journalist: The developed world is a hypocrite and has no right to lecture us

Highlights: President of Guyana says developed world has no right to lecture him on climate change. President: "We have the lowest rate of deforestation in the world" Guyana is expected to extract approximately $150 billion of natural gas in the next few years. The country is also expected to reduce its carbon emissions by up to 70% by the end of the 20th century, according to the World Resources Institute (WRI) WRI: "The world has lost 65% of its biodiversity in the past 50 years"

The President of the Republic of Guyana, Muhammad Irfaan Ali, launched a sharp attack on what he described as the “hypocrisy of the developed world” regarding carbon emissions. Instead of answering the BBC presenter’s questions, he reprimanded the presenter and questioned him about climate change.

Guyanese President Muhammad Irfaan Ali launches a scathing attack on the "hypocrisy of developed countries" regarding global carbon emissions (BBC)

Guyana President Mohamed Irfaan Ali has launched a sharp attack on what he described as the "hypocrisy of the developed world" over global carbon emissions on a large scale. Instead of answering the BBC presenter's questions, he berated and grilled him on climate change.

Ali's speech came during an interview with BBC journalist Stephen Sackur, who asked the president about Guyana's carbon emission rates as it plans to extract oil and gas along its coast.

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In the clip of the interview that went viral, the Guyanese president interrupted the journalist, saying, "You have no right to lecture me about climate change. You are in the pockets of those who are destroying the environment through the industrial revolution and now they are lecturing us."

The BBC's @stephensackur on @BBCHARDtalk i/vs the President of Guyana, Irfaan Ali on exploiting $150b of its oil & gas reserves.

Mr Ali is having none of Sackur's woke, guilt trip nonsense as he points out that his forests store 19.6 gigatonnes of carbon.

“Does that give you… pic.twitter.com/pOeYMcnExY

— David Atherton (@DaveAtherton20) March 31, 2024

Regarding Sackur’s question that Guyana’s extraction of oil and gas would result in more than two billion metric tons of carbon emissions from its coast, the President responded, saying, “Did you know that Guyana has a forest the size of England and Scotland combined? A forest that stores 19.5 gigatonnes of carbon, a forest that we have kept alive.” ".

Regarding this, the journalist asked him whether this would give Guyana the right to extract oil and gas and release emissions. The president said, “Does this give you the right to lecture us about climate change? I will lecture you about climate change.”

“We have the lowest rate of deforestation in the world… Guyana will still be net zero”

President Irfaan Ali says Guyana won't take lectures on climate change as it exploits its huge offshore oil and gas reserves

📻 https://t.co/TKxhR6r3ur pic.twitter.com/xIJTgRsfZP

— BBC HARDtalk (@BBCHARDtalk) March 29, 2024

He added, “Because we kept this forest alive to protect the 19.5 gigatons of carbon stock that it enjoys, that the world enjoys, that you don't pay us for, that you don't value, that you don't see value in. This is all because of the forest that the people of Guyana have kept alive.” life".

“We have the lowest rate of deforestation in the world,” he continued. “Even with our greatest exploration of oil and gas resources, Guyana will remain at net zero carbon emissions.”

In a statement about the alleged "hypocrisy", the President of Guyana said, "Those who destroyed the environment are now doubting my country. This is hypocrisy that exists in the world. In the past 50 years, the world has lost 65% of its biodiversity. We have preserved our biodiversity. Do you appreciate that?" Are you ready to pay the price? When will the developed world pay the price for this?”

The president criticized the broadcaster by saying, "Are you in the pockets of those who harmed the environment? Are you and your regime in the pockets of those who destroyed the environment through the industrial revolution and are lecturing against us now? Are you in their pockets? Are you in their pockets? Did you receive the price from them?"

The South American country is expected to extract approximately $150 billion worth of oil and natural gas from its coast during the next few years.

It is noteworthy that many developing countries have raised this issue and called on the West to significantly reduce its carbon emissions.

In 2023, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged rich countries to completely reduce their carbon footprint “long before” 2050, and called on the world to achieve a tangible outcome on financing to help developing and poor countries fight climate change.

Guyana.. a rainforest oasis

Guyana is a country on the northern coast of South America that gained its independence from the United Kingdom on May 26, 1966. It became a republic on February 23, 1970 and remains a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.

The Guyana Forest is characterized by great biodiversity, and forms part of the Guyana Amazonian Park and other natural reserves. Both the International Union for Conservation of Nature (EUCN) and the European Union recommended that special efforts be made to protect this region.

The Guyana Forest is also one of the richest forests in the world and one of the most densely forested countries in South America, with rainforests covering approximately 91% of its land area, an area larger than the US state of Washington.

As part of the unique geological formation known as the "Guiana Shield," the country's rainforests play an essential role in regulating rainfall throughout the Amazon Basin, significantly influencing global climate regulation.

Guyana's rugged interior features a mix of towering mountains, sprawling savannah grass, and vast rainforests. This biodiverse haven hosts about 4% of all known animal species, including iconic Amazonian species such as jaguars, giant river otters, harpy vultures, and tapirs. , giant anteaters, and giant armadillos.

Forests and climate change

Climate change is closely linked to forests, as the loss and degradation of forests is a cause of Earth's climate change. When forests are destroyed, they release large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, exacerbating the climate crisis.

The agriculture, forestry and land use sectors are responsible for 22% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and forests are the largest store of carbon after the ocean.

According to experts, working to protect and restore forests is part of the global response to the climate crisis, due to their ability to absorb and sequester carbon, insulate communities from climate impacts such as floods, and provide food and livelihoods for millions of people in an increasingly hot world.

Source: Al Jazeera + websites + social networking sites