United Kingdom (UK) Member of Parliament (MP) David Lammy has hailed Guyana’s growing influence on the global climate stage, saying the country is helping to reshape international discussions through its environmental leadership and commitment to sustainable development. Lammy, who is of Guyanese descent, was the feature speaker during the latest edition of Conservation Conversations, hosted by the Environmental Management Consultants (EMC) Foundation, where he discussed the link between geopolitics and conservation. He said while thousands of conservation programmes around the world are working alongside local and Indigenous communities to protect human rights and the environment, many require long-term funding commitments to remain effective. “The truth is that there are many thousands of wonderful conservation programmes around the world aligned with local Indigenous communities and preserving human rights and they really are making a difference, but they need long-term fundamental funding commitments to thrive,” Lammy said. He noted that conservation initiatives often influence global discussions and policy decisions beyond their size and scale, adding that Guyana is increasingly playing a critical role in that space.

“In international forums, they change the conversation and influence policy far beyond their size and scale, and that’s where I see Guyana increasingly important, playing this very crucial role because, of course, it is a country that is part of the Caribbean and a central part of South America,” Lammy said.

“Guyana is no longer simply a country of immense natural wealth; it is becoming a country of immense environmental significance, and I’m very proud to see the work done in collaboration with the UK that Guyana is making on many fronts,” he added.