…will get worse – JagdeoBy Gary EleazarWhile in Guyana there are some that are still not appreciative of the fact that Guyana will be significantly affected by climate change President Bharrat Jagdeo,Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys, yesterday,Anthony Steen Dolphins Jersey, at a post Copenhagen press conference, pointed out that already this country has moved from one extreme,China Jerseys Cheap, namely floods to drought-like conditions.According to Jagdeo drought-like conditions exist in some parts Essequibo and are costing Guyana a significant sum of money.“We have moved from flooding to drought-like situations…They told me that we are using close to 1000 gallons of diesel every two days to pump water and they need more money.”Jagdeo pointed out that this was the case given that there is now the need to pump water from creeks into the canals. “They have to pump water from the creeks for irrigation purposes.”He emphasized that the country has now moved from one extreme of losing approximately 10 per cent of Gross Domestic Product per annum over the past10 years to another extreme.“And it’s going to get even worse and could have catastrophic effects on people’s lives. This is why we all have to be hopeful that President (Barack) Obama will do the right thing too.”President Jagdeo’s reference to Obama followed assertions that the future of the planet hinges on US President Obama paving the way for developed countries to sign a legally binding agreement to bring emissions cuts to the necessary levels required and provide adequate financing to the developing countries.Head of State Jagdeo, at the press briefing held at the Office of the President, yesterday,Cheap Air Max USA, he said that a legally binding agreement is necessary prior to the 2010 meeting Mexico pointing out that the alternatives would be catastrophic.Using the word hopeful frequently, Jagdeo pointed out that it is not known what will be the outcome in the US as it relates to the new energy legislation adding that proposed financing by the US as well as their proposed emission cuts are nowhere near what is required.“We hope Obama will do the right thing.”He said that the US had said a long time ago that it will make a 17 per cent cut in emissions on the 2005 baseline which is actually a four per cent cut on the 1990 baseline.Jagdeo said that the US went to Copenhagen and did not change what it has said before. Jagdeo also expressed an appreciation for the commitment of half of the money pledged to be met by Obama again reiterating that what has been forthcoming thus far is dismal in comparison to what is required.“A lot of people are looking for fairness…I am hopeful because of the alternatives….what emerged (at Copenhagen) was a disappointment from a global perspective”Jagdeo also took to task the critics of China position saying that while that country must make cuts, it must not be seen as the villain in pollution. Jagdeo said that he, in his presentation,Cheap Authentic Jerseys, urged China to make emissions cuts adding that if the developed world were to cut emissions to zero and China did nothing then the two degrees Celsius target would be exceeded.However, on a per capita basis, China emits less carbon than the United States.He said that while there is a widespread agreement on the science of climate change there is no agreement on the action which is necessary to be taken. “The developed world has to cut (emsissions).”Jagdeo however did not level all the blame at the feet of the US and the Obama administration adding that the planning of the Danish Presidency of the forum contributed significantly to the failure at Copenhagen.Jagdeo pointed to the fact that working out processes rather than substantive negotiated significantly hindered the process.Jagdeo also chided the AOSIS (Alliance of Small Island States) Countries pointing out that a lot more could have been achieved if they were so not disorganized.Notwithstanding that Jagdeo emphasized that it was not up small states to determine the outcome adding that it is the developed countries such as the US that has to step up to the plate and commit to a legally binding agreement.As it relates to Guyana,Cheap NFL Jerseys, Jagdeo said that while the overall outcome at Copenhagen was a disappointment Guyana did not leave empty handed in that it has managed to get more than 30 countries to sign on the REDD+ initiative which was previously not catered for in the Kyoto Protocol.
