'Genetic Jackpot' Guyana President: "Net Zero? Hypocrisy of Developed Countries That Caused Environmental Destruction During the Industrial Revolution"

The president of Guyana, an oil-producing country in Latin America, is drawing attention by sharply criticizing developed countries that are regulating fossil fuels for carbon neutrality. Once the poorest country in Latin America, Guyana has been recording rapid growth since oil fields were discovered by the American oil company ExxonMobil in 2015.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of Guyana, appeared on the British BBC program 'Hard Talk' released on the 29th of last month (local time) and engaged in a discussion with the host under the theme "Is oil a blessing or a curse for Guyana?"

President Ali responded to the host's remark that "many experts say that 2 billion tons of carbon will be emitted from your country's offshore (oil wells)" by saying, "Stop right there." He then asked, "Are you aware that Guyana has forests the size of England and Scotland combined, storing 19.5 Gt (gigatons) of carbon?"

When the host further questioned, "Does having forests give you the right to emit carbon?" Ali replied, "Do you have the right to teach us about climate change?" He raised his voice, saying, "Let me lecture you on climate change because we have protected these forests, which you and the world have enjoyed without paying us or valuing them."

He emphasized, "This is the hypocrisy that exists in the world today." He also said, "We have one of the lowest deforestation rates in the world. Did you know that? Despite large-scale oil and gas exploration, we are still at net zero (carbon neutrality) levels." He added, "Are you and your system, which destroyed the environment through the Industrial Revolution, now siding with those who try to lecture us?"

Guyana was once the poorest country in South America, but after oil fields were discovered by ExxonMobil exploration in 2015, it has been producing and exporting crude oil in earnest since 2019. Its oil reserves are estimated to exceed 1.1 billion barrels. Since 2020, it has been recording a high growth rate of 30% annually.

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