Guyana is the only English speaking country located along the north coast of South America. For this reason, as well as being one of the four founding members of the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM), the country is often considered part of the Caribbean. The country’s economy is heavily dependent on its natural resources: forests, minerals, arable land and, since 2020, oil and gas production. The coast is below the mean sea level, which, when combined with the increasing effects of climate change especially rising sea levels, unpredictable heavy rainfall events and sinking lands, makes the country vulnerable to climate change. This is further exacerbated as more than 90% of the population resides along the coast, and most economic activities occur there.

The main contributors to Green House Gas (GHG) emissions are the energy and agriculture sectors. In the energy sector, 97% of the electricity demand is generated with Heavy Fuel Oil and Diesel and the total energy demanded by the transport sector is provided by fossil fuels. Agriculture is the second-largest GHG emitter, with current emissions generated mainly from rice production and livestock. Guyana is currently scaling up its Oil and Gas operations, and it is estimated that by 2025, the oil and gas platforms could double the current GHG emissions.

In contrast, Guyana is a carbon sink and is identified as a High Forest and Low Deforestation (HFLD) country with a forest cover of  85% and an average annual deforestation rate of 0.06% over the last 10 years.

Guyana is one of the founding members of GGGI since its formation in 2012. Since 2018, GGGI has been present in Guyana and has become a trusted advisor within the energy sector. GGGI has supported the mobilization of US$ 32 million of investment for solar PV projects to date, which has reduced emissions of 0.44 million tonCO₂e and generated 991 full-time Job-year. GGGI has developed Guyana’s energy transition policy which is included in the draft Low Carbon Development Strategy Extended(LCDS). The plan’s implementation outlined in the policy would save approximately 50 million tonCO₂e and generate 26,800 Job-year. Since 2021, GGGI has expanded its support areas to include Forestry and Agriculture.