Convergence between Plan and 2030 Agenda

Guyana’s new Green Sustainable Development Strategy is a long term strategy until 2040. Under the vision: "An inclusive and prosperous Guyana that provides a good quality of life for all its citizens based on sound education and social protection, low-carbon and resilient development, providing new economic opportunities, justice and political empowerment.", it has 3 key messages and 8 main objectives from which they established 213 policies. 

The Green State Development Strategy: Vision 2040, provides the comprehensive development policy to guide public investment over the next 20 years. Its objective is broader than Guyana’s past development strategies and captures a more holistic view of the country’s social, economic and environmental well-being, in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In particular, the Strategy is transformational. It not only aims to foster sustained economic growth that is low-carbon and climate-resilient (consistent with the Low Carbon Development Strategy) but also promotes social cohesion, good governance and careful management of finite natural resources in accordance with green economy (GE) principles.

An extensive national consultations process was held, featuring seven thematic expert groups comprising 136 private, public and civil society representatives, and 32 consultation meetings convened across Guyana’s ten administrative regions. The national consultations that lasted from January through September 2018, set the policy direction and priorities of the Strategy, thereby ensuring a ‘bottom-up’ participatory effort.

Guyana’s Green Economy Modelling Study (GEMS) has been conducted to assess the economic, social and environmental impacts of a selection of such green policies. GEMS makes use of System Dynamics modelling to test how a transfer of investments from Business-as-Usual (BAU) to Green Economy (GE) policies affects a range of economic, social and environmental indicators. For the purpose of elaborating the Strategy, four priority sectors were identified (agriculture, forestry, energy and road transport infrastructure), where the impact of selected green economy policies were evaluated to the year 2040. The transformation to a green economy requires certain enabling conditions, all of which are linked – directly or indirectly – to sustainable infrastructure. Indeed, the four sectors analysed in the model reflect the importance of infrastructure to Guyana’s sustainable development.

Development Objective A: Sound Fiscal and Monetary Policy

Outcomes
By 2040, fiscal and monetary policy will:
• Transparently manage oil wealth to secure a stable future source of public revenue;
• Channel oil wealth into productive public investments to deliver sustainable development benefits for the whole of society and into the future; and
• Provide citizens and businesses with confidence that prices will remain stable in the long term, supporting the business environment.

Key Message 2: Support Economic Resilience

By 2040, Guyana’s core economic sectors:
• Adopt greener and safer operating practices, reducing resource use, minimising waste and negative environmental and social impacts;
• Achieve high levels of productivity and sustainability through the adoption of advanced technology and management best practices;
• Successfully compete in regional and international markets, in part due to a reliable and efficient network of infrastructure and effective fiscal policy in line with regional comparators;
• Are supported by strong and effective institutions which ensure high compliance with regulations while facilitating market activity, reducing bureaucracy and supporting the transition to the ‘formal’ sector.

Development Objective D: Transition to Renewable Energy

By 2040, Guyana will:
• Transition to use of near-100% renewable and clean energy sources for electricity generation sourced from the country’s natural capital and in accordance with its international agreements and commitments.
• Mandate energy efficiency technologies and practices in existing and new buildings and by 2030 double the rate of improvement in energy efficiency.
• Shift to a low carbon emissions transport sector and use of higher efficiency vehicular fleets and/or more diversified fuels.

Development Objective E: Resilient Infrastructure, Green Towns and Urban Public Spaces

Outcomes
By 2040, Guyana’s infrastructure development:
• Provides and maintains high quality connections in transport and communication from the coastal region to the West, East and South of Guyana, lowering transit times, transport and business costs, and environmental impacts on a per km basis, while improving the reliability of national connectivity services;
• Is allocated sufficient and appropriate land to meet municipal service demand, provide clear provisions for the expansion of the housing stock, and offer residents and businesses assurance that their homes and offices are structurally sound, sustainable and resilient to natural hazards;
• Maximises use of ‘green infrastructures’ with objectives that are co-related to preserving biodiversity and ensuring ecosystem integrity and function.
• Provides the local population, especially the poorest in society, with a sufficient supply of safe and affordable housing, open green space and access to quality services (electricity, water and sanitation facilities), in line with minimum international health standards;
• Supports low-carbon and sustainable lifestyles through the provision of convenient and low-cost alternatives to private transport as well as improving access to nonmotorised transport.

Objective H: Good Governance, Transparency and Knowledge Management

By 2040, Guyana’s governance and institutions:
· Reflect stronger checks and balances among the branches of government and promote social cohesion, shared governance, and a participatory democracy as a result of further constitutional reforms.
· Are managed by modern, professional and competent public sector institutions that function under capable executive management and appropriate parliamentary oversight while operating with a new ethic of accountability, openness and client orientation with the public and the business community.
· Operate with minimal public corruption as reflected in international corruption and transparency measures as a result of stronger institutions, better oversight, a vibrant civil society and an effective and independent judicial system.
· Manage and administer public lands and resources sustainably, transparently, and efficiently with indigenous land claims finally and fully resolved through a consensual process.
· Foster a modern knowledge economy where ICT systems are the backbone of efficient public service delivery, support a more informed and active citizenry, and drive innovations in the business and creative sectors.