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| Why the West should put money in the trees | Why the West should put money in the trees |
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| VIEWPOINT Bharrat Jagdeo In 2006, Guyana's President Bharrat Jagdeo outlined an offer to place almost the entirety of Guyana's rainforest under international supervision as part of the world's battle against climate change. In the Green Room this week, President Jagdeo sets out his views on how to reduce the 18% of greenhouse gas emissions caused by tropical deforestation. | VIEWPOINT Bharrat Jagdeo In 2006, Guyana's President Bharrat Jagdeo outlined an offer to place almost the entirety of Guyana's rainforest under international supervision as part of the world's battle against climate change. In the Green Room this week, President Jagdeo sets out his views on how to reduce the 18% of greenhouse gas emissions caused by tropical deforestation. |
| Currently, rainforests are worth more dead than alive | Currently, rainforests are worth more dead than alive |
| Imagine a business which invested 80% of its profits in products with the lowest rate of return. | Imagine a business which invested 80% of its profits in products with the lowest rate of return. |
| Is this business destined to succeed? Unlikely. | Is this business destined to succeed? Unlikely. |
| Yet global efforts to combat climate change bear a worrying similarity. | Yet global efforts to combat climate change bear a worrying similarity. |
| The Kyoto Protocol has resulted in the emergence of a more than US$60bn (£34bn) carbon market as the world's main mechanism to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. | The Kyoto Protocol has resulted in the emergence of a more than US$60bn (£34bn) carbon market as the world's main mechanism to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. |
| This is a welcome start. But about 80% of this money goes to countries which cause less than 20% of emissions. Protecting rainforests is not only an environmental concern but an economic issue that cuts to the core of a nation's development Can capitalism save the Amazon?In pictures: Amazon planWatch Amazon video reports | This is a welcome start. But about 80% of this money goes to countries which cause less than 20% of emissions. Protecting rainforests is not only an environmental concern but an economic issue that cuts to the core of a nation's development Can capitalism save the Amazon?In pictures: Amazon planWatch Amazon video reports |
| We will fail future generations unless we address this lack of proportionality. | We will fail future generations unless we address this lack of proportionality. |
| In early December, we will have a chance to do this when representatives of almost 200 countries gather in Poznan, Poland to continue forging an agreement to succeed the Kyoto Protocol. | In early December, we will have a chance to do this when representatives of almost 200 countries gather in Poznan, Poland to continue forging an agreement to succeed the Kyoto Protocol. |
| As a rainforest country, securing a proportionate response to tropical deforestation is of particular importance to Guyana. | As a rainforest country, securing a proportionate response to tropical deforestation is of particular importance to Guyana. |
| Tropical deforestation contributes about 18% of global greenhouse gas emissions. That is about the same as the total emissions from the US, and more than the entire global transportation sector. | Tropical deforestation contributes about 18% of global greenhouse gas emissions. That is about the same as the total emissions from the US, and more than the entire global transportation sector. |
| Yet under the Kyoto Protocol, it remains more valuable to cut forests down than to leave them standing. | Yet under the Kyoto Protocol, it remains more valuable to cut forests down than to leave them standing. |
| Economic question | Economic question |
| If we are to solve this problem, we need to first accept a fundamental point. | If we are to solve this problem, we need to first accept a fundamental point. |
| Legal deforestation takes place because forest communities and countries can earn money and create jobs by selling trees and clearing land for agriculture.Deforestation, legal or illegal, removes the "lungs of the planet" | Legal deforestation takes place because forest communities and countries can earn money and create jobs by selling trees and clearing land for agriculture.Deforestation, legal or illegal, removes the "lungs of the planet" |
| These are legitimate objectives for citizens and governments to pursue - particularly because most rainforest countries are among the poorest in the world. | These are legitimate objectives for citizens and governments to pursue - particularly because most rainforest countries are among the poorest in the world. |
| By contrast, the global economy does not value the services that forests provide when trees are kept alive, including the avoidance of greenhouse gas emissions. | By contrast, the global economy does not value the services that forests provide when trees are kept alive, including the avoidance of greenhouse gas emissions. |
| Correcting this market failure will require recognising that protecting rainforests is not only an environmental concern but an economic issue that cuts to the core of a nation's development. | Correcting this market failure will require recognising that protecting rainforests is not only an environmental concern but an economic issue that cuts to the core of a nation's development. |
| It therefore needs sustained attention from the highest levels of governments. | It therefore needs sustained attention from the highest levels of governments. |
| Partners in progress | Partners in progress |
| I was my country's minister of finance when the Kyoto Protocol was agreed, and I paid very little attention to it. | I was my country's minister of finance when the Kyoto Protocol was agreed, and I paid very little attention to it. |
| This was a mistake; and I advise today's ministers of finance, prime ministers and presidents to ensure that they give climate change and deforestation a greater priority than I did. The British Government took the global lead on securing debt relief for countries such as mine | This was a mistake; and I advise today's ministers of finance, prime ministers and presidents to ensure that they give climate change and deforestation a greater priority than I did. The British Government took the global lead on securing debt relief for countries such as mine |
| As well as national leadership, we need international partnership. No country can go it alone. | As well as national leadership, we need international partnership. No country can go it alone. |
| We need the active involvement of governments, businesses, non-governmental organisations and conscientious people everywhere, to advocate for action and to devise realistic solutions. | We need the active involvement of governments, businesses, non-governmental organisations and conscientious people everywhere, to advocate for action and to devise realistic solutions. |
| In Guyana, we are ready to play our part, and to provide a model for other rainforest countries to share. | In Guyana, we are ready to play our part, and to provide a model for other rainforest countries to share. |
| Our deforestation rate is one of the lowest in the world and we want it to stay that way. | Our deforestation rate is one of the lowest in the world and we want it to stay that way. |
| However, we also face considerable development challenges. We need better schools and hospitals, more jobs and economic opportunities, and to meet all the other economic and social demands of Guyana's people. | However, we also face considerable development challenges. We need better schools and hospitals, more jobs and economic opportunities, and to meet all the other economic and social demands of Guyana's people. |
| Poverty indicator | Poverty indicator |
| I frequently receive proposals from investors to convert our forest into land for agriculture or biofuels. | I frequently receive proposals from investors to convert our forest into land for agriculture or biofuels. |
| Agreeing to these would be a quick way to meet the development challenges we face. | Agreeing to these would be a quick way to meet the development challenges we face. |
| But in Guyana, we are acutely conscious of climate change. | But in Guyana, we are acutely conscious of climate change. |
| Most of our population and productive land are below sea level and suffering from changing weather patterns. | Most of our population and productive land are below sea level and suffering from changing weather patterns. |
| In 2005, floods caused economic damage equivalent to 60% of our GDP. | In 2005, floods caused economic damage equivalent to 60% of our GDP. |
| We recognise that as a nation where over 80% of our surface area is tropical rainforest, we have an obligation to our own people and the wider world to seek to preserve it.The conservancy east of Georgetown supplies water for irrigation | We recognise that as a nation where over 80% of our surface area is tropical rainforest, we have an obligation to our own people and the wider world to seek to preserve it.The conservancy east of Georgetown supplies water for irrigation |
| This is why in 2006, I suggested that the UK and Guyana could work together to identify bold rainforest solutions that could be used as models for the world. | This is why in 2006, I suggested that the UK and Guyana could work together to identify bold rainforest solutions that could be used as models for the world. |
| For our part, we are willing to place almost our entire rainforest - which is larger than England - under internationally verified supervision if the right economic incentives are created. | For our part, we are willing to place almost our entire rainforest - which is larger than England - under internationally verified supervision if the right economic incentives are created. |
| This does not mean sacrificing sovereignty over our forest or restricting the development aspirations of our people. It simply means allowing globally recognised supervision to verify that activities within the forest are sustainable. | This does not mean sacrificing sovereignty over our forest or restricting the development aspirations of our people. It simply means allowing globally recognised supervision to verify that activities within the forest are sustainable. |
| At the UN climate meeting in Poznan, I will be outlining our vision in greater detail, and I hope that many British people will support our efforts. | At the UN climate meeting in Poznan, I will be outlining our vision in greater detail, and I hope that many British people will support our efforts. |
| This hope stems from my experience at the 1998 meeting of the G8 in Birmingham, when I joined British NGOs to lobby for debt relief. | This hope stems from my experience at the 1998 meeting of the G8 in Birmingham, when I joined British NGOs to lobby for debt relief. |
| Thanks to the efforts of these NGOs and thousands of individuals from across the UK, the British government took the global lead on securing debt relief for countries such as mine. | Thanks to the efforts of these NGOs and thousands of individuals from across the UK, the British government took the global lead on securing debt relief for countries such as mine. |
| This has transformed the lives and livelihoods of millions. | This has transformed the lives and livelihoods of millions. |
| With climate change and deforestation, the prize is greater still. | With climate change and deforestation, the prize is greater still. |
| I hope that the months and years ahead will see us renew our partnership. | I hope that the months and years ahead will see us renew our partnership. |
| And I believe that this can be our contribution to winning the battle against our generation's defining challenge. | And I believe that this can be our contribution to winning the battle against our generation's defining challenge. |
| Bharrat Jagdeo is President of Guyana | Bharrat Jagdeo is President of Guyana |
| UK readers can hear more about Mr Jagdeo's proposals on rainforest protection, and debate and discussion of the issues involved, in this week's edition of Panorama, broadcast on BBC One at 2030 BST | UK readers can hear more about Mr Jagdeo's proposals on rainforest protection, and debate and discussion of the issues involved, in this week's edition of Panorama, broadcast on BBC One at 2030 BST |
| The Green Room is a series of opinion articles on environmental issues running weekly on the BBC News website | The Green Room is a series of opinion articles on environmental issues running weekly on the BBC News website |
| Do you agree with President Jagdeo? Does forest protection need a higher priority in moves to curb climate change? Should western governments reward poorer countries for preserving their forests? Does this compromise their sovereignty? Or are poorer nations just trying to get cash for "business as usual"? | Do you agree with President Jagdeo? Does forest protection need a higher priority in moves to curb climate change? Should western governments reward poorer countries for preserving their forests? Does this compromise their sovereignty? Or are poorer nations just trying to get cash for "business as usual"? |
| Fantastic idea we use the money we are spending on reducing emission to helping keep a forest alive. Which gets rid of emission the proper way?Rob Burman, Worksop England | Fantastic idea we use the money we are spending on reducing emission to helping keep a forest alive. Which gets rid of emission the proper way?Rob Burman, Worksop England |
| I believe that we should keep as much of the rainforest as possible.....Urban development is creating its own problems with more and more flooding of major towns and cities. The BBC's programme lost land of the Jaguar should be more than enough proof that we still have parts of this world left to investigate and wildlife to find and protect. Pay the relevant countries to protect our world by stopping logging and preserving the rainforest, so that our future generations can have a world worth living in.Miss L Hurley, Belfast | I believe that we should keep as much of the rainforest as possible.....Urban development is creating its own problems with more and more flooding of major towns and cities. The BBC's programme lost land of the Jaguar should be more than enough proof that we still have parts of this world left to investigate and wildlife to find and protect. Pay the relevant countries to protect our world by stopping logging and preserving the rainforest, so that our future generations can have a world worth living in.Miss L Hurley, Belfast |
| I hope to believe there will be as much action and encouragement in this regard between both parties. Certainly the priority needs to be escalated far quicker than it has been.Edwin Pereira, London, England (United Kingdom) | I hope to believe there will be as much action and encouragement in this regard between both parties. Certainly the priority needs to be escalated far quicker than it has been.Edwin Pereira, London, England (United Kingdom) |
| I HAVE VISITED MANY RAINFORESTS IN MY TIME .THE AMAZON IS A WONDERFUL PLACE . TO LOSE THE RAINFOREST JUST FOR MONEY IS VERY SAD OUR GOVERMENT IS NOT INTERESTED AND WHAT GUYANA IS OFFERING SHOULD BE SNAPPED UP . I HAVE BEEN AGAINST THE DESTRUCTION OF THE RAINFORESTS FOR OVER 20YEARS . LIKE MOST THINGS I DELT THE GOVERMENT WILL ACT QUICK ENOUGH, IT SADDENS ME EVERY DAY TO THINK WHAT WE ARE LOSEN.andrew kyle, LEICESTER | I HAVE VISITED MANY RAINFORESTS IN MY TIME .THE AMAZON IS A WONDERFUL PLACE . TO LOSE THE RAINFOREST JUST FOR MONEY IS VERY SAD OUR GOVERMENT IS NOT INTERESTED AND WHAT GUYANA IS OFFERING SHOULD BE SNAPPED UP . I HAVE BEEN AGAINST THE DESTRUCTION OF THE RAINFORESTS FOR OVER 20YEARS . LIKE MOST THINGS I DELT THE GOVERMENT WILL ACT QUICK ENOUGH, IT SADDENS ME EVERY DAY TO THINK WHAT WE ARE LOSEN.andrew kyle, LEICESTER |
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