Guyana's President Irfaan Ali goes viral after climate change exchange with BBC reporter

The discussion, which centred on Guyana's burgeoning offshore oil and gas industry, took a contentious turn when Sackur raised concerns about the environmental impact of such development.

President Ali, in a now-viral clip from the interview on BBC's HardTALK, pushed back against what he perceived as hypocrisy from the developed world regarding climate change. As Guyana prepares to extract oil and natural gas valued at around $150 billion from its coastal reserves in the coming years, Ali questioned Sackur's authority to lecture him on environmental matters.

During the exchange, Ali interrupted Sackur's inquiries about Guyana's carbon emissions and challenged the journalist's stance as a representative of the developed world. The interaction highlighted tensions between economic development and environmental responsibility, particularly in countries reliant on fossil fuel extraction for revenue.

The viral clip has sparked discussions surrounding the complexities of balancing economic growth with environmental stewardship, particularly in developing nations rich in natural resources. President Ali's outspoken defence against perceived double standards in climate discourse has resonated with many online, igniting debate about global environmental policies and accountability.

Sackur asked,  “Let’s take a big picture look at what’s going on here. Over the next decade, two decades, it is expected there will be 150 billion dollars worth of oil and gas extracted off your coast. It’s an extraordinary figure. But think of it in practical terms: according to many experts, more than 2 billion metric tons of carbon emissions will come from your seabed from those reserves and be released into the atmosphere.  I don’t know if you as a Head of State went to the COP28...  

Ali countered “Let me stop you right there. Let me stop you right there. Do you know that Guyana has a forest forever that is the size of England and Scotland combined? A forest that stores 19.5 Gigatons of carbon, a forest that we have kept alive. Does that give you the right to lecture us on climate change. I am going to lecture you on climate change because we have kept this forest alive. The store's 19.5 gigatons of carbon that you enjoy, that the world enjoys, that you don't pay us for, that you don't value, that you don't see a value in, that the people of Guyana has kept alive.”