President Ali Urges Global Action on Climate and SDGs at United Nations
By Tiana Cole – September 25, 2025
President Irfaan Ali on Wednesday addressed the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, calling on the international community to accelerate collective action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the global climate crisis.
The Guyanese Head of State stressed that the survival of people, economies, and the planet hinges on bold, people-centered strategies that place the most vulnerable at the heart of development.
“It requires a people-centered approach that prioritizes ending poverty and hunger, ensuring protection of children, support for persons with disabilities, and empowerment of young people,” President Ali stated.
Ali underscored that peace, stability, and sustainable development cannot be achieved without tackling climate change, which he described as an “existential threat to the most vulnerable and to our shared future.”
Guyana’s Leadership in Climate Action
President Ali pointed to Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030 as a model for balancing economic growth with environmental protection. He highlighted Guyana’s achievements in pioneering the sale of carbon credits and becoming the first nation certified under the REDD+ Environmental Excellence Standard.
“We continue to match our words with actions, protecting our forests, investing in sea and river defences, improving drainage and irrigation, and restoring mangrove ecosystems to protect our people, our land, our livelihoods, and our planet,” he affirmed.
Ali urged the international community to provide predictable and accessible climate finance to support adaptation and resilience, while also embracing nature-based solutions.
Biodiversity as a Global Public Good
Referencing the Global Biodiversity Alliance Summit hosted by Guyana in July 2025, which convened over 140 countries, indigenous leaders, scientists, and financial institutions, Ali called for biodiversity to be integrated into national development plans and climate strategies.
“Biodiversity is a global public good, and its protection must be woven into national development plans, climate strategies, and financial frameworks,” he said.
The President also noted that Guyana is exploring biodiversity credits as an innovative way of generating sustainable income for forest-dependent communities, building on its success with carbon credits.
Energy Transition and Global Commitment
President Ali reaffirmed Guyana’s approach of using natural gas as a bridge fuel in its energy transition away from heavy fuel oil, underscoring that economic development and environmental stewardship can advance together.
In closing, he urged world leaders to recommit to unified global action, stressing that the fight against climate change and the pursuit of the SDGs are inseparable challenges that demand urgent solutions.
