Interested in the Norway-Guyana Tree Pact to Slow Global Warming? Read our guide for the background facts & information…
Although Norway has a wealth of trees, most are pine trees or evergreens which do not reduce greenhouse gases or produce oxygen as well as the trees found in the rainforests of Borneo. Since Norway has already experienced climate changes, they have made a pact with the country of Guyana to save these vital rainforests in an attempt to slow global warming. In co-operation with the World Bank, Norway will pay Guyana about $250 million USD to preserve their rainforest.
The First Payment
An initial payment of $30 million dollars was paid by Norway to Guyana and subsequent payments will be released based on Guyana’s success in preventing deforestation and degradation of their rainforests. Another component will be the control of greenhouse gas emissions in the country. In many newly industrialized countries, greenhouse gas emissions are high and it is the goal of both the governments of Norway and Guyana to sustain economic development while avoiding pollution and large scale deforestation in the country.
Working Together to Avoid Catastrophic Climate Change
Government officials in Norway and Guyana along with representatives of the World Bank hope that the pact between the two countries will serve as an example of how developed countries can work with developing economies to promote economic growth without creating further environmental strain. Norway has taken steps to preserve vast areas of their pine tree and evergreen forests, but recognizes that the most precious resources to fight global warming exist in countries which are just developing global economies. They hope their pact with Guyana will spur other nations into similar agreements.
The Model
Part of the tree pact between Norway and Guyana establishes “payment for ecosystem services” by the government of Guyana. Norway believes that by assigning value to the preservation of rainforests the governments of the world can bring economic prosperity to under developed nations while preserving the resources needed to ensure the survival of planet Earth. The effects of global warming are easily apparent in the Scandinavian region with rapidly melting glaciers and rising sea levels. The deforestation of tropical rainforests is believed to be a major contributing factor in global warming.
While Norway’s pine trees have their own contribution to make in protecting world wide ecosystems, the Norwegian government has taken the forefront in environmental preservation with this innovative pact. It is Norway’s fervent hope that other developed nations will form similar pacts with developing countries to preserve and improve the world’s rainforests.
