Speaker of the National Assembly of Guyana, Manzoor Nadir, and former Mayor of Georgetown, Pt. Ubraj Narine, were among the global leaders who attended the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference hosted by the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) in Seoul, South Korea.
Held under the theme “Building Global Unity: Strengthening Peace and Shared Prosperity Through Inter-Parliamentary Dialogue,” the conference brought together over 40 Speakers of Parliament from across the world.
Addressing the conference, Nadir delivered a presentation on the topic “Population Change and Sustainable Future: International Cooperation Measures for Responding to the Climate Crisis.” In his speech, he highlighted the urgent connection between global population growth and the worsening climate crisis, emphasizing that increasing demands on the planet are placing unsustainable stress on natural resources.
“It took until the early 1800s for the world population to reach one billion. Now, we add a billion every 12 to 15 years,” Nadir noted, using historical context to illustrate the mounting pressure on biodiversity, water, food supplies, and other critical resources. He warned that without coordinated global action, the consequences could include civil unrest, disease, and conflict.
Nadir also cited troubling global statistics, pointing out that over 800 million people suffer from hunger while 650 million live with obesity, serving as clear indicators of inequality in the distribution of resources. He called for bold, collective international action, urging nations to share knowledge and innovation, and to reinforce global climate frameworks such as the Paris Agreement.
“This is not the time for business as usual,” he declared. “We need to work together as a global team—and with divine inspiration—to overcome the dual threats of population pressure and climate change.”
The speaker expressed his appreciation to the Universal Peace Federation for organising the event. “It is a distinguished honour for me to be part of this meeting,” he said, extending thanks to Dr. Charles Yang and the UPF team for their efforts.
Former Mayor of Georgetown, Pt. Ubraj Narine, also participated in the summit, joining other leaders in discussions centered on inter-parliamentary collaboration and peacebuilding through dialogue.
This year’s conference marked the launch of a long-term UPF initiative aimed at fostering inter-parliamentary dialogue to achieve global unity, peace, and shared prosperity—objectives strongly echoed by all participating nations. Speaker Nadir’s address and Guyana’s presence underscored the country’s continued commitment to addressing global challenges through diplomacy and international cooperation.
The conference was held from April 10-12, 2025
