High-Level team meeting in Guyana to address climate impacts and vulnerabilities

…school curriculum to address climate change- Minister of Education

Officials from several countries, both regional and international are currently in Guyana for a three-day High-Level meeting which began on September 3 at the Pegasus International Hotel in Georgetown.

The meeting, which is being hosted by UNESCO Guyana, is geared at addressing climate impacts and vulnerabilities in the region and elsewhere and how local and Indigenous knowledge can assist in mitigating the adverse effects of climate change.

Attending the closing session of the three-day high-level meeting were Minister of Education Dr The Hon. Nicolette Henry, Minister with in the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs, Hon Valerie Garrido-Lowe and Minister of Natural Resources Hon Raphael Trotman.

Speaking at the forum, Dr Henry noted that this area of study is very important to Guyana and the Caribbean as we all experience challenges with hurricanes, flooding, and other climatic and weather changes, including rising sea levels, which affects our livelihood.

Further, the Education Minister said that the Indigenous populations in many instances have borne the brunt of the consequences arising from climate impacts and other vulnerabilities. But as resilient individuals, they have also come up with solutions to address the issues of climate challenges. Turning to the local front, Minister Henry pointed out that here in Guyana the development taking place in indigenous communities is cause for hope.

“Development is about long-term progress, not a short-term process. It involves integrated planning and implementation particularly for education, the economy, society and security in order to achieve change everywhere”. These efforts, of course, are synergistic to building the capacities of our Indigenous population and realizing local knowledge solutions.

Additionally, Minister Henry said another valiant effort of the Government of Guyana is the development of its Green State Development Strategy which links the challenges of Climate Impacts to the potential environmental solutions.

She explained that many of the strategies and measures adumbrated in the Green State Development Strategy have been examined for infusion into the new curriculum being developed by the Ministry of Education here in Guyana.

“As Minister of Education, I also see the need for educating our children in the school system, ensuring that they are fully acquainted with the issue of climatic changes and its effects”.

Also addressing participants were, Minister of Natural Resources Hon Raphael Trotman and Ms Peggy OTI-Boteng, Director- Division of Science of Policy and Capacity Building UNESCO. The three-day meeting commenced on September 3 and concludes on the 5th of September.