Guyanese President Irfaan Ali’s forceful critique of “Western hypocrisy” regarding carbon emissions has become widely discussed. During an interview with BBC journalist Stephen Sackur, Ali responded to questions about Guyana’s carbon emissions linked to its oil and gas exploration.

 

In a notable moment from the interview, Ali interrupted Sackur and questioned whether the journalist had the “right to lecture” him on climate change, accusing him of being “in the pockets of those who have historically harmed the environment.”

Ali defended Guyana’s approach, highlighting the country’s extensive forest, which he said stores 19.5 gigatons of carbon. He argued that despite the planned oil and gas extraction, Guyana maintains the lowest deforestation rate globally and will remain net zero in carbon emissions.

The President criticized Western nations for their environmental impact and loss of biodiversity over the past 50 years, questioning whether they truly value and compensate for the preservation efforts of countries like Guyana.