King Charles III urges countries to follow Guyana’s lead in protecting forests

King Charles III visited Guyana on Friday, commending the country's efforts to safeguard its extensive forests while reaping millions from carbon credit sales. During a meeting with President Irfaan Ali in Georgetown, the capital, Charles emphasized that nature's value is immeasurable and urged other nations to adopt similar practices.

Ali acknowledged Charles' leadership in addressing environmental concerns and sustainable development. Guyana received $250 million from Norway in 2009 to protect its 18 million hectares of forest and has generated $353 million from carbon credits in recent years. In November 2022, it became the first nation to issue carbon credits under a global standard.

The government intends to allocate 30% of the proceeds for development projects in Indigenous Amerindian communities. Charles also met veterans, Indigenous leaders, and visited Independence Park, where enslaved persons were executed during a slave revolt. Amid calls for Britain to apologize for slavery, the British government has steadfastly declined.