GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA): The growing concerns about climate change and its disastrous effects have dictated that small island developing states, such as the Caribbean quickly turn to alternative means of energy generation to satisfy growing demands for energy and to protect their fragile economies.

Guyana’s President Bharrat Jagdeo who has been a strong advocate for avoided deforestation to mitigate climate change believes that the region will be hard pressed to find adaptation resources necessary to address adverse weather events.

In December 2008 the Head of State unveiled Guyana’s plan position on Avoided Deforestation as a plan to tackle climate change, a model that is gaining traction as more countries that are pursuing avoided deforestation are adopting it.

Given the vulnerability of the Caribbean to the effects of climate change and natural disasters, and the growing demand for energy it is imperative that means are employed to ensure that a significant portion of the energy requirements are derived from alternative energy.

To this end, Climate Change and Energy Access was the focus of an International parliamentary hearing for Caribbean legislators facilitated by e-Parliament which began on Saturday in Guyana.

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, during opening remarks said that Guyana’s forests contribute significantly to the removal and storage of carbon dioxide being emitted into the world’s atmosphere as well as the maintenance of bio-diversity.

He informed the legislators from countries such as Belize, St Kitts, Jamaica, St Lucia, Dominican Republic, Haiti, the Bahamas, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago that the Guyana Government is actively pursuing a low carbon development path and has put forward a market model for evaluating the contribution of its forest for mitigating global climate and other changes. He also solicited their support in this endeavour.

“All mankind should be aware that we face an intolerable threat but our response is not yet as desperate as it had been in the time of energy price in the 70s.Tthere is still much to do in order to earnestly, yet calmly raise awareness of this dire threat hanging over the world and over all human kind. I therefore, must commend the organizers of this e-parliament for their contribution in raising awareness all around the world,” the Prime Minister said.

“When existing solutions confront surmountable odds there is evident need to rethink those solutions to rethink the world view. Climate change eruditely expresses the fact that resources are limited and finite and that the world is one and all human kind is bound in a common destiny.”

Hinds said the question of allocation of limited finite resources within this new perceived reality for example sustainable levels of GHG emissions into the atmosphere now points to emission per capita being the unit for consideration.

Executive Director of e-Parliament, Jesper Grolin said the world’s eco-system has limited capacity and in many cases are overburdened and on the verge of collapse as a result of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. One of the major effects is sea-level rise, he said.

Grolin noted that the poor will be the hardest hit by the consequences of sea- level rise and other effects of climate change since they cannot build dykes or take other preventative measures.

In terms of action to be taken, Grolin said the earth can absorb about 9.9 billion tons of CO2 per year and by 2030 the world’s population should be about 8.2 billion and if these two figures are divided, then the per capita of emissions of CO2 has to be reduced to one ton per person.

All forests he asserted should be left intact as deforestation causes almost 20 percent of CO2 emissions.

The e-Parliament will be holding a conference in June titled ‘Payment for ecosystem services’ because according to Grolin “the forests are providing eco-system systems services and it is quite natural that we need to pay for those.”

Grolin added that there are no shortages of alternatives that can provide energy and fuel development in developing countries and every country should identify its comparative advantage since several technologies are available that work and would be able to assist in feeding development.

The two-day conference will allow for the legislators to engage in discussions on a number of alternative energy sources and technologies and benefit from a several expert presentations.

The Caribbean region has tremendous wealth in terms of renewable energy (RE) potential but exploitation and harnessing of these resources can be a major challenge because of the capital investment necessary to set up RE systems.

Participants were expected to have an interactive session with President Jagdeo on Sunday.