President Irfaan Ali strengthens climate and development ties in Scotland with Royal support

President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali of Guyana had a very productive visit to Scotland, taking major strides in advancing the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030 for his country.

His engagements, sanctioned by the King’s Foundation, point to Guyana’s continued service as a global leader in sustainable development, climate resilience, and green growth.

Actually, the visit highlighted the shared vision between Guyana and the United Kingdom’s monarchy to not only save the global environment but push those initiatives through, as very dramatically played out by King Charles III.

At its core, there was a private discussion between President Ali and King Charles III, highlighting mutual dedication to current issues in climate change, agriculture support, and input for sustainable urban development.

The head of state, King Charles III described Guyana’s climate initiative, which he has been very passionate about since its launch back in 2009, as a model for climate action. The President remains optimistic over the deepening of collaboration with King’s Foundation, especially in new areas of focus like urban renewal and biodiversity conservation.

President Ali reflected on the meeting, saying Guyana can be an example to the rest of the world in sustainable urban development, much like it has been in forestry over the last 15 years.

“We spoke at length about cutting-edge solutions in sustainable development, and I am convinced that our future partnerships will bring tangible benefits, particularly with the new LCDS priorities,” the President noted.

President Ali visited not only for the high-level meetings but also spent time observing on the ground what Scotland is doing about social inclusion and sustainability. He toured various facilities as he explored innovative programs that mirrored Guyana’s aim.

President Ali learned about how Scotland readies its young people with science and technology skills for the future job market at a STEM workshop. For the president, that fits in with the push through for his administration to increase participation in STEM education and encourage innovative thinking among young Guyanese.

He also toured a center for regenerative agriculture, getting a firsthand glimpse at advanced practices that improve soil health and biodiversity but also provide sustainable food solutions.

This also manifests the aspirations of Guyana to be a role model for a food-secure leader and ace in agriculture in the Caribbean region. President Ali also spoke on various sustainability initiatives to deliver housing, which is very much part of his vision for turning Georgetown into the “Garden City of the Caribbean.”

Urban renewal was also highlighted as President Ali took some time to visit Scotland’s green space urban planning projects, where he could witness an eco-friendly approach to design cities and towns for community well-being.

He expressed keen interest in replicating the same structure in Guyana, more particularly with the LCDS focus on environmentally responsible urban development.

The visit ended with a private dinner with King Charles, at which President Ali listened to further rhetoric on deepening cooperation.

President Ali commented: “Guyana looks forward to sharing its progress in other forums along with the King’s Foundation in the near future, including in global events like Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting”.

This visit marks a significant move at the President’s part towards global partnership, focused on aspects like in areas of sustainability, social inclusion, and innovation.