Belém, Brazil – 10 November 2025: The Co-operative Republic of Guyana today underscored its leadership in global climate and biodiversity action at the opening of the COP30 negotiators’ session in Belém, Brazil.The Guyana delegation is led by Pradeepa Bholanath, Guyana’s Lead Negotiator for the UNFCCC, and Derrick John, Chair of the National Toshaos’ Council (NTC) and representative of Indigenous Peoples.Nikolaus Oudkerk, Coordinator of the Office of the President’s Department of Environment and Climate Change, interacts with negotiators from the Holy See during the opening of COP30 in Belém, Brazil, fostering dialogue on shared priorities for climate action and environmental stewardship. (Photo: Yusuf Ali/News Room)Their joint participation marks the strong collaboration between the Government and Indigenous Peoples, where the National Toshao’s Council and Government are representing Guyana at the negotiation level of the UN Climate Conference – signalling a collaborative approach that places Indigenous leadership, biodiversity, and climate-finance innovation at the core of Guyana’s message to the world.Pradeepa Bholanath, Guyana’s Lead Negotiator for the UNFCCC, engages with representatives from Guinea-Bissau during the opening of COP30 in Belém, Brazil. (Photo: Yusuf Ali/News Room)Advancing President Ali’s COP30 VisionAt the Leaders’ Summit earlier this week, President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali presented Guyana’s three-point plan for global climate action:Making forests a permanent part of the global climate agenda; andScaling up adaptation finance for the world’s most vulnerable states.Bholanath and John used the opening of the negotiators’ session to reaffirm that message, stressing that forests, biodiversity, and Indigenous stewardship are indispensable pillars of effective climate action.“Guyana’s story shows that climate success is possible when people, nature, and finance are brought together,” said Bholanath.“Our forests are a living example of how nature-based solutions deliver global benefits when they empower local communities.”John added: “Indigenous Peoples have protected these forests for generations. At COP30, Guyana is showing the world that climate action can effectively include Indigenous rights and leadership, not as an afterthought, but as a foundation.”Guyana’s Lead Negotiator for the UNFCCC Pradeepa Bholanath, Derrick John, Chair of the National Toshaos’ Council, and Nikolaus Oudkerk, Coordinator of the Office of the President’s Department of Environment and Climate Change, attend the opening of COP30 negotiations in Belém, Brazil. (Photo: Yusuf Ali/News Room)Climate Finance and Indigenous InclusionGuyana’s pioneering Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS 2030) remains a global model for integrating sustainable growth, carbon markets, and social inclusion.Under the LCDS, Guyana has monetised its forest-carbon services, securing at least US$750 million in carbon credit agreements over the next decade.Over 15% of all carbon-revenue proceeds are allocated directly to Indigenous and local communities through village-led investment plans focused on sustainable livelihoods, renewable energy, eco-tourism, and climate-resilient infrastructure.More than US$22 million (GY$4.7 billion) has already been distributed to over 200 villages.Guyana’s negotiators emphasised that this model demonstrates how forest-rich developing nations can achieve measurable climate results while ensuring Indigenous Peoples share equitably in the benefits. Guyana Launches Global Biodiversity AllianceAt COP30, Guyana is also advancing the agenda of the Global Biodiversity Alliance (GBA), launched in Georgetown in July 2025. The Alliance, endorsed by the COP30 Presidency, brings together states and institutions committed to integrating biodiversity protection into climate and development strategies.The Georgetown Declaration, adopted at the inaugural GBA Summit, recognises biodiversity as “fundamental to human wellbeing, climate stability, and resilience.”Through the GBA, Guyana is pioneering:Biodiversity credits and other financing instruments for the conservation of biodiversity; andA national Biodiversity Information System (NBIS) to monitor ecosystems across Guyana by 2030.Bholanath noted that the GBA “extends the LCDS vision – uniting climate and biodiversity finance to sustain both people and planet.”Forests, Nature and Climate: One AgendaGuyana’s delegation continues to deliver a clear message:Climate action without nature protection is incomplete; and nature protection without Indigenous participation and fair financing is not credible.By linking forests, biodiversity, and Indigenous knowledge, Guyana is demonstrating that developing countries can lead the global shift toward low-carbon, nature-positive growth.Looking AheadAs negotiations progress, Guyana will work with partners across the Global South and beyond to:Secure stronger recognition of forests and biodiversity as frontline solutions for climate mitigation and adaptation;Expand access to predictable, market-based finance for forest-rich developing nations; andDeepen the participation of Indigenous Peoples in global climate and biodiversity processes.President Ali’s call for action, to move the world “from promises to progress”, remains at the heart of Guyana’s mission in Belém (Press release)The post Guyana champions forests, biodiversity & Indigenous leadership at opening of COP30 negotiations appeared first on News Room Guyana.