Countering Western Self-Righteousness

How to deal with the hypocrisy of the developed world? In a live TV interview, Guyana’s President came well prepared. He delivered a masterclass in effective political communication. What follows is a transcript of Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s conversation with the BBC’s Stephen Sackur on BBC’s HARDtalk.

Stephen Sackur:

Let’s take a big picture look at what’s going on here. Over the next decade, two decades, it is expected that there will be 150 billion dollars worth of oil and gas extracted off your coast. It’s an extraordinary figure.

But think of it in practical terms. That means, according to many experts, more than two billion tons of carbon emissions will come from your sea bed, from those reserves, and be released into the atmosphere.

I don’t know if you, as a head of state, went to the COP in Dubai?

Mohamed Irfaan Ali:

Let me stop you right there. Do you know that Guyana has a forest, forever, that is the size of England and Scotland combined? A forest that stores 19.5 gigatons of carbon. A forest that we have kept alive.

Stephen Sackur:

Does that give you the right to release all of this carbon?

Mohamed Irfaan Ali:

Does that give you the right to lecture us on climate change? I’m going to lecture you on climate change. Because we have kept this forest alive, that stores 19.5 gigatons of carbon, that you enjoy, that the world enjoyed, that you don’t pay us for, that you don’t value, that you don’t see a value in, that the people of Guyana have kept alive.

Guess what? We have the lowest deforestation rate in the world. And guess what? Even with our greatest exploration of the oil and gas resource we have now, we will still be net zero. Guyana will still be net zero.

Stephen Sackur:

A couple of points. Powerful words Mr. President.

Mohamed Irfaan Ali:

I have not completed yet. Because this is a hypocrisy that exists in the world. The world, in the last 50 years, has lost 65% of all of its biodiversity. We have kept our biodiversity. Are you valuing it? Are you ready to pay for it?

When is the developed world going to pay for it? Or are you in the pockets of those who have damaged the environment.

Are you, and your system, in the pocket of those who destroy the environment, through the Industrial Revolution, and now lecturing us. Are you in their pockets? Are you paid by them?

Editor’s note: Guyana has extensive tropical forests that cover 80% of the country. Its GDP per capita is rapidly increasing due to oil production, which reached 278,000 barrels per day in 2022. As a result, the country of 800,000 has seen extraordinary economic growth, averaging 42.3% over the last three years.