UK Foreign Secretary announces new UK-PACT funding for Guyana

– lauds Guyana’s forest conservation efforts

Continuing collaborative initiatives for climate action through forest and biodiversity preservation, the United Kingdom’s (UK) Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Rt Hon. David Lammy on Friday announced the launch of the UK-PACT Amazon Regional Fund.

According to the UKPACT’s website, the UK is partnering with four countries under the Amazon Regional Fund to ‘address key drivers of deforestation’ by advancing the fight against climate change and contributing to programmes that encourage sustainable growth.

During a community engagement at Rockstone Village, Lammy commended Guyana’s impeccable forest management systems, allowing the country to boast one of the lowest deforestation rates in the Amazon Shield.

“Guyana is at the forefront leading,” the Secretary of State said.

Lammy was accompanied by the Minister within the Ministry of Public Works Deodat Indar, the UK High Commissioner to Guyana Her Excellency Jane Miller, and senior officials from the Guyana Forestry Commission and the LCDS Secretariat were present at the engagement.

While in the area, the Secretary of State also visited the Linden-Mabura Road project, which will provide greater connectivity to the hinterland regions.

The project is funded through a grant from the UK Government via the CDB-administered UK Caribbean Infrastructure Fund, alongside a CDB loan and financing from the Government of Guyana.

Already, Guyana has been implementing several programmes through the overarching Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030.

In 2024, more than 240 Amerindian communities received approximately $4.8 Billion to fund sustainable projects, such as eco-tourism, agriculture and community infrastructure.

The LCDS also addresses mitigation efforts, with several Hope-like canals being constructed in the coastal regions.

Guyana has been awarded at several international fora for its work on adaptation and mitigation efforts on climate change.

Just last week, the Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance and the Public Service Dr Ashni Singh attended the International Monetary Fund’s 2024 High-Level Caribbean Forum on Managing the Green Transition.

Dr Singh called on the multilateral community to do more to increase the volume of financing available for public and private investments in the energy transition and to reduce the cost of these investments including through the use of derisking instruments.