The last time Jagdeo came to D.C. was November 2009, two weeks before the Copenhagen Climate Change Summit. He said he recalls having a much more positive and hopeful discussion at that time towards the possibility of preventing climate change.
Since Copenhagen, Jagdeo claims that there has been a “drift in ambition,” and that they have drastically lowered expectations. The weak message conveyed by the Copenhagen summit drove away many potential investors, he said.
Jagdeo placed the onus of slowing climate change mostly on developed nations. He feels the United States is unlikely to enter into binding international environmental agreements in the near future.
He said the U.S. needs to have a better long-term economic outlook.
“The United States runs the risk of losing its economic competitiveness,” he said.
The solution for the developed world is green technology, which President Barack Obama has spoken in favor of many times, Jagdeo said.
Jagdeo also said his country set up an economically sustainable model to prevent deforestation. He said Norway agreed last year to pay Guyana $30 million this year and up to $250 million by 2015 for its effort to preserve Guyana’s massive forests.
Jagdeo said many, including officials at the World Bank, did not understand the purpose of this agreement.
“This should be seen as a payment for services, not as aid,” he said.
This model is unique and it will help developing countries dispel the stereotype that they are “just looking for a free lunch,” he said.
To treat this money as aid is to belittle the importance of preventing deforestation, according to Jagdeo.
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