Climate Crisis Looms: Is Guyana Preparing for Devastating Effects of Climate Change in the Next 10 Years

In the next 10 years, Guyana could potentially face dire consequences due to the effects of climate change. According to the World Bank’s Climate Change Knowledge Portal (CCKP), the country’s mean annual temperature is projected to increase by 0.9°C to 1.6°C by 2039. This will lead to a decrease in the mean annual precipitation by 2% to 7%, with more pronounced reductions during the dry season and increases in the wet season.

These changes in temperature and precipitation could have significant impacts on Guyana’s water resources, agriculture, biodiversity, health, and infrastructure. With its low-lying coastline and dependence on agriculture and natural resources, Guyana is vulnerable to sea-level rise, coastal erosion, flooding, droughts, storms, and saltwater intrusion.

The coastal plain, where most of the population and economic activities are concentrated, is only a few meters above sea level and is protected by a network of sea defenses that are vulnerable to breaches and overtopping. Sea-level rise, coupled with storm surges and high tides, could cause coastal flooding, erosion, saltwater intrusion, damage to infrastructure, and displacement of communities.  Yet the government of Guyana and reckless investors continue to pour billions of dollars into the building of massive infrastructure on Guyana’s unprotected coastland.

According to the CCKP, the projected mean sea-level rise for Guyana ranges from 0.2 m to 0.8 m by 2100, depending on the emission scenario. The projected coastal inundation due to mean sea-level rise and storm surge could affect up to 10% of Guyana’s land area and 16% of its population by 2050.

Climate change is also affecting Guyana’s weather patterns, leading to more frequent and intense droughts and floods. These events could have negative impacts on Guyana’s agriculture, water resources, health, biodiversity, and livelihoods.

Guyana has proposed measures such as strengthening coastal defenses, improving drainage and irrigation systems, promoting climate-smart agriculture, enhancing disaster risk management, conserving forests and wetlands, and raising public awareness and capacity. But none of these have been done in an organized, systemized and meaningful way.  It is clear that more needs to be done to mitigate the effects of climate change on the country.

Is the private sector aware that the industries that are most vulnerable to climate change in Guyana include rice, sugar, livestock, fisheries, forestry, mining, tourism, and health. Without immediate action, Guyana’s economy and population will suffer the consequences of climate change in the coming years and it will be the citizens of Guyana who will suffer most. It is crucial for the government of Guyana to communicate how it plans to invest some of the nation’s oil revenue to secure the lives and property of its citizens in the upcoming years.  The effects of climate change could spell impending disaster for Guyana, it is therefore important for all political parties, civil society, the private sector and the international community collaborate with Government to tackle this global crisis.