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Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
At the governmental level the integrated approach has been undertaken by two statutory bodies. There is a Cabinet Subcommittee on Natural Resources and Environment which is chaired by the Executive President. All issues related to sustainable development with regards to natural resource use which require policy decision are thoroughly discussed and reviewed by this committee before taken to Cabinet.
At the Technical level there is the Natural Resource and Environment Advisory Committee (NREAC) which includes the heads of natural resource agencies and the environmental protection agency.
In the development of activities or programmes with regards to sustainable development, the participatory model is widely used and appreciated. In addition efforts to promote shared responsibility with different stakeholders - government, private sector, non-governmental organizations and local communities have evolved over the years. Major groups participate in the decision making process and in some cases NGOs have been active in developing activities for sustainable development at the local and national level.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
The Government of Guyana explicitly endorsed the concept of sustainable development and the promotion of sound environmental management when it published the details of its policy and actions on the environment in the National Environmental Action Plan. This plan was approved in May 1994 after a series of consultations with NGOs, governmental and other interest groups. Recognizing the importance of establishing a legal framework to implement these policies and actions, Guyana passed an Environmental Protection Act in June 1996. The Government of Guyana now uses this as the regulatory instrument to implement environmental policy and to promote environmental management which is integral to sustainable development.
This Act establishes the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as the institution with the mandate for coordinating environmental management and provides for the management, conservation, protection and improvement of the environment, the prevention or control of pollution and the assessment of the impacts of economic development activities on the environment.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
The EPA created various mechanisms for action with respect to Environmental Management as follows:
- setting of standards of environmental quality
- environmental impact assessment
- licensing of activities with the potential for pollution
- penalties and fines for environmental degradation
- monitoring of anthropogenic impacts on the environment emanating from industrial and other activities
- public awareness and environmental education
The environmental monitoring capability of the EPA has been enhanced through the establishment of a laboratory facility to undertake monitoring of various chemical parameters and to determine their environmental effects. This was established through a private sector donation.
Guyana has recognized that environmental management is a multi-disciplinary task. In this regard the EPA carries out its task through linkages with sectoral Natural Resource Agencies and the involvement of stakeholders and other interest groups.
In order to commence full operation of the EPA the government will receive financial assistance from the Inter-American Development Bank to implement an environmental management project. This project aims to strengthen the technical and organizational capability of the Agency and will also assist in the legal and regulatory framework in environment and natural resources management. Under this project the government plans to strengthen the environmental management capacity of selected sectoral agencies, ministries and local governments with significant environmental management responsibilities. In this regard initial work will begin with the mining and forestry sectors with which Memoranda of Understanding have already been signed.
It is widely established that sustainable development cannot be achieved without an integrated approach which involves the public and private sectors and other groups.
| 1. National Sustainable Development Coordination Body: | Yes |
| 2. National Sustainable Development Policy: | Yes |
| 3. National Agenda 21/other strategy for SD | |
| 4. Local/Regional Agenda(s) 21: | |
| 5. Environmental Impact Assessment Law: | Yes |
| 6. Major Groups involved in Sustainable Development Decision-Making: | Yes |
| 1. Sustainable. Dev. or environmental education incorporated into school curricula: | |
| 2. Sustainable Development Indicators Program: | |
| 3. Ecolabel Regulations: | |
| 4. Recycle/Reuse Programs: | |
| 5. Green Accounting Program: | |
| 6. Access to Internet: | Yes |
| 7. Access to World Wide Web: | Yes |
| 8. National World Wide Web Site for Sustainable Development or State of the Environment: | No |
| 1. Combatting poverty: | Yes |
| 2. Changing consumption and production patterns: | Yes |
| 3. Atmosphere: | Yes |
| 4. Land Use Planning: | Yes |
| 5. Forest and Deforestation: | Yes |
| 6. Desertification and Drought: | |
| 7. Sustainable Mountain Development: | |
| 8. Sustainable Agriculture: | Yes |
| 9. Biological Diversity: | Yes |
| 10. Biotechnology: | |
| 11. Oceans and Coastal Areas: | In process |
| 12. Freshwater Management: | In process |
| 13. Toxic Chemicals: | |
| 14. Hazardous Wastes: | In process |
| 15. Solid Wastes: | In process |
| 16. Radioactive Wastes: | |
| 17. Energy: | Yes |
| 18. Transport: | |
| 19. Sustainable Tourism: |
Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement
No information is available.
Programmes and Projects
No information is available.
Status
No information is available.
Challenges
No information is
available.
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
No information is available.
Information
No information is available.
Research and Technologies
No information is available.
Financing
No information is available.
Cooperation
No information is available.
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This information was provided by the Government of Guyana to the fifth session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last Update: April 1997.
Click here for go to Guyana's National Development Strategy.
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WOMEN
No information is available.
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Click here for Guyana's policy for Women, gender and development.
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CHILDREN AND YOUTH
No information is available.
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INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
No information is available.
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Click here for Guyana's Amerindian Policies.
Click here for information on policy recommendations for Amerindian issues.
NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
No information is available
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
No information is available
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
No information is available
Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement
No information is available
Programmes and Projects
No information is available
StatusBoth the public non-governmental and the private sector can be said to be in their embryonic state in Guyana. The recent resurgence and increase in NGO activities in Guyana has been encouraged mainly by the economic policy reforms adumbrated by the government. However, government has recognized that there is a need to incorporate these groups to within the natural resources management and environmental conservation framework. Additionally, it aims to cater for the provision of"extension services" to the NGO sector, as well as their systematic involvement in resource management issues. This is understandable, as the informal, under-institutionalized and highly variable character of many local rural communities make their involvement particularly desirable. However, it is important that the parameters be established for NGO involvement. To bring these plans to fruition the government is in the process of establishing policies that give NGOs a clearly defined legal status, to facilitate the formation of a national umbrella organization in the various areas of NGOs involvement and to encourage NGOs to participate at all stages of the development process.
At the moment most of the natural resource development activities are situated in the interior where Amerindians live. Amerindians, NGOs, captains and others have participated in the process of national decision making and also in the implementation of economic development projects that may impact on their environment.
Challenges
No information is available
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
No information is available
Information
No information is available
Research and Technologies
No information is available
Financing
No information is available
Cooperation
No information is available
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This information was provided by the Government of Guyana to the fifth session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last Update: April 1997.
Click here for Guyana's Amerindian Policies.
Click here for information on policy recommendations for Amerindian issues.
LOCAL AUTHORITIES
Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
It should be noted that many of the environmental problems and their solutions have their roots in local activities and the participation of the local inhabitants. The cooperation of local government therefore becomes crucial in the entire process.
The principal objectives of the establishment of local government in Guyana are to decentralize the decision and implementation process and to create a framework within which communities can participate in the planning and execution of development projects and programmes in their areas.
The Local Democratic Act (1980) of Guyana has allowed for the country to be divided into ten regions and for these regions to be further divided into subregions, districts, communities and neighbourhoods respectively.
To date, the local government ministry has been able to establish links with the CROYDEN BOROUGH in London, which is a network of local authorities in developing countries. It is envisaged that through such an established link, there shall be opportunities for technical cooperation that could facilitate an exchange of ideas, provision of equipment, training and financial resources, among other things.
At the local level, there has been some amount of capacity building in the area of environmental education and training. Specifically, modules on the root causes of environmental degradation and actions necessary to address the emerging concerns have been prepared for neighbourhood democratic council members. In addition, there have been on going training programmes on good governance.
In the specific natural resource sectors, a direct effort is made to involve women, youth and citizens in general to be involved in environmental management activities.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
Please refer to Decision Making: Coordinating Bodies.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement
No information is available.
Programmes and Projects
No information is available.
Status
No information is available.
Challenges
No information is
available.
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
No information is available.
Information
No information is available.
Research and Technologies
No information is available.
Financing
No information is available.
Cooperation
No information is available.
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This information was provided by the Government of Guyana to the fifth session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last Update: April 1997.
Click here for information on Guyana's policy toward the role of regional and local government.
WORKERS AND UNIONS
No information is available.
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BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY
Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement
No information is available.
Programmes and Projects
No information is available.
StatusSome private sector organizations have taken the initiative and have incorporated the sustainable development concepts with environmental management systems. Currently, two (2) expatriate companies operating in the area of natural resources have developed management plans to ensure sustainable exploitation of Guyana's natural resources. This has helped them to maintain environmental standards and compliance with the relevant Environmental Protection laws.
Additionally, through technical assistance from the Guyana National Bureau of Standards, a number of private sector organizations have been encouraging their membership to move in the direction of implementing the principles contained within the ISO-9000 document. The ISO-14000 principles are also currently being perused with the aim of possible adoption in their near future.
Challenges
No information is available.
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
No information is available.
Information
No information is available.
Research and Technologies
No information is available.
Financing
No information is available.
Cooperation
No information is available.
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This information was provided by the Government of to the fifth session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last Update: April 1997.
SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL COMMUNITY
No information is available.
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FARMERS
No information is available.
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