GENEVA, CMC—Guyana’s Attorney General, Anil Nandlall SC, said Wednesday that until the international community moves “swiftly and condignly” to deal with the impact of climate change, the burdens of science and technology will quickly outstrip their benefits.
Addressing the 149th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) focusing on harnessing science, technology, and innovation (STI) for a more peaceful and sustainable future, Nandlall said no doubt, today, society rotates upon the axis of science, technology, and innovation.
The Guyana Legal Affairs Minister said that almost every conceivable facet of human life is impacted in this regard, and ” as one of the premier decision-making fora, it is incumbent upon Parliaments across the globe to harness these concepts for global peace and to advance human progress.”
The weeklong conference, which is being held under the theme “Harnessing science, technology, and innovation (STI) for a more peaceful and sustainable future,” will bring together all IPU statutory bodies, including the Governing Council, Standing Committees, Committees on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians and Middle East Questions, the Forum of Women Parliamentarians, and the Forum of Young MPs.
The conference is expected to end with the adoption of an outcome document on the overall theme of the general debate.
Nandlall told the conference that the information, communication, and technology age has transformed the world into a radically different place with unparalleled benefits. “Communication is now instantaneous. Physical work has been made appreciably easier and more efficient. Meetings and engagements of almost every conceivable type have become more virtual than in-person.”
He said energy is progressively being produced from renewable and sustainable sources than those that have proven to be environmentally hazardous.
“Almost every facet of public administration and governance is moving from manual to electronic; data and paper-driven processes are now digitized and are becoming paperless.
“Sophisticated and technologically controlled drones are replacing expensive large military hardware with greater efficiency and accuracy. Non-invasive laser-driven processes are replacing crucial medical procedures with greater clinical success. And I can go on, but I think the point is made.”
But Nandlall said human history has taught that with benefits come burdens, and the challenge before the parliaments is to maximize these benefits and minimize the accompanying burdens.
“As we harness the use of science and technology, we have to ensure that we strike that delicate balance because unrestrained science and technology can render a predominant portion of the human race redundant.
“This is already happening in the developed world, where thousands of computers and robots are replacing workers. Therefore, through laws and policies, parliaments must create a regulatory framework that will ensure that this delicate balance is maintained.”
Nandlall said that global warming, rising tides, and the increase in hurricanes, tornados, and other harsh weather phenomena no longer matter for conjecture, and they are now becoming a permanent feature of everyday life.
“Therefore, environmental preservation and sustainability are the highest priority – if the lives of future generations are to be secured.
“Our generation must ensure we leave a safe planet for future generations. While it can be argued that science and technology may have led to today’s environmental degradation, we cannot undo what is already done.
“The least we can do is reduce the degradation. We can use the technological opportunities available to protect and preserve what is left, he said, noting that Guyana, which has the.
the second highest percentage of forest cover on earth and one of the lowest deforestation rates is investing ” heavily in alternative renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, hydro, and natural gas.
“Additionally, we are one of the largest sellers of carbon credits on the world market. In this regard, Guyana presents a model for the global community to emulate.”
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