Reconciling Green and Oil State Goals: Guyana as a Case Study

Abstract

The Brundtland Report of 1987, titled “Our Common Future”, offered a universal model of development, at the centre of which is the balance of economic, social, and environmental components. The oil and gas sector has begun to accept the notion of sustainable development as an essential component of the economy that has a substantial influence on the economic growth of society and the quality of the environment. This article was inspired by a desire to comprehend the contradiction between hydrocarbon production and the pursuit of a green state development plan. The paper raises some questions about whether Guyana can truly accomplish the goal of green state development. Guyana continues to grapple with the environmental degradation that the mining sector leaves in its wake, even in the face of regulations. This paper draws on several secondary data sources to answer these critical questions. It begins with examining the key concepts relevant to the discussion before examining Guyana’s past experiences with natural resource extraction. The paper presents the author’s perspective on whether Guyana can effectively achieve a green state status while being an oil-producing state in its experience, along with current and planned initiatives for the oil and gas sector. The paper concludes with recommendations for reducing the environmental impact of oil exploration and production in Guyana.