Georgetown : The Department of the Environment (DoE) is in the advanced stages of finalising the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS) which will be presented to Cabinet in September. This is according to the Director of the DoE, Ndibi Schwiers who was speaking on the sidelines of an FAO-EU/FLEGT [Food and Agriculture Organisation-European Union/ Forest Law Enforcement] forum held yesterday.
“Recently, the coordination office within the DoE made a presentation to Cabinet and so with this in mind, the agency is looking to present a good document in September to deliver to Cabinet so that they can deliberate on it before it goes to Parliament in October,” Schwiers explained. This, she said, will help to highlight the country’s way forward to becoming more involved in green development.
The GSDS aims to reorient and diversify Guyana’s economy, reducing reliance on resource-intensive sectors and provide new sustainable income and investment opportunities in green sectors with higher added value, while promoting an equitable distribution of benefits and opportunities to all Guyanese. This initiative provides a platform for the country to transition to a diversified green and inclusive economy, with the integration of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Schwiers noted that the department has completed its coastal consultations and is set to target other slated relevant stakeholders, to raise awareness of the initiative and receive feedback. “We are also in the process of conducting regional consultations, though coastal consultations are already completed. Next week we are moving to the hinterland regions working with our partners to commence our consultations,” she explained.
The director highlighted that once the document is completed and approved, it will be implemented for the development of the country and beneficial to the citizens which the department is geared up to be involved.
The GSDS document represents a roadmap for the country’s development along a reduced emissions pathway and builds on the successes of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and several other national documents such as the Nationally Determined Contributions, Climate Resilience Strategy Action Plan (CRSAP), Draft National Energy Policy, and National Adaptation Strategy for the Agriculture Sector (2009 -2018).
Nationwide consultations among other areas identified will guide the development of the seven major themes of the strategy. These include green inclusive, structural transformation; sustainable management of natural resources; transition towards renewable energy; resilient infrastructure and spatial development; human development and wellbeing; governance and institutional foundations; and international cooperation, trade and investment.
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