Recently the General Director of the Institute for Climate Change Research (ICC), Alex Guerra, Ph.D., participated in meetings with the United Kingdom’s Regional Ambassador for Asia/Pacific, the Caribbean and Small Island Developing States, Mr. Ken O’Flaherty “COP26 Regional Ambassador”, who visited Guatemala on August 19, 2022.
The meeting addressed the most pressing environmental challenges for Guatemala as part of the agenda of the Ambassador’s world tour to several countries that are vulnerable to the effects of climate change, following up on the UK’s diplomatic efforts to follow up on the commitments of the Glasgow Climate Pact, reached last year at COP26 in Scotland.
With information from the @UKinGutemala, the Regional Ambassador will focus on significantly assisting efforts to build resilience to climate change, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide the necessary funding for both.
The Ambassador will emphasize the importance of closing the gap between existing emissions reduction plans and what is required to follow them, such as Guatemala’s commitments to combat deforestation and promote the use of renewable energy. He will also discuss the importance of Guatemala supporting initiatives to phase out coal-based energy and inefficient fossil fuel subsidies.
During his trip, the Regional Ambassador will also highlight the need for nations to reaffirm their duty to deliver $100 billion annually from developed to developing countries. The United Kingdom has already committed US$20 million through its Biodiverse Landscapes Fund, which will help Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Belize address the impacts of climate change, reduce poverty and protect biodiversity in environmentally rich areas of Mesoamerica.
The 26th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), COP26, took place from November 1-12, 2021 in Glasgow, UK. The UK holds the presidency until COP27 to be held in Egypt later this year and will aim to ensure that emission reduction pledges are met to keep the global temperature rise at 1.5 degrees; adaptation, loss and damage commitments are met; commitments to keep finance flowing are kept; and that its inclusive presidency continues.
