According to the Green Climate Fund (GCF), Suriname could receive US$ 80 million in 2025 based on the 10 million carbon credits the country has accumulated. This amount is made possible by mitigation measures implemented in the forestry sector. Minister Marciano Dasai of Spatial Planning and Environment (ROM) considers this a milestone for Suriname.
He made this statement during a press conference held by the Council of Ministers on Wednesday. The minister emphasized that several favorable deals have been secured, including Quick Climate Finance agreements for amounts up to US$ 100,000.
Dasai noted that during discussions with financiers, attention was also drawn to the effects of climate change in Suriname’s interior. With funds now available, projects must be drafted within three months to gain access to these resources, according to the ROM minister.
Another positive development is the establishment of a “zero alliance” between Suriname and three other carbon-negative countries: Panama, Bhutan, and Madagascar. Through this collaboration, the alliance advocates for increased capacity building and funding to help these nations maintain their carbon-negative status. Dasai pointed out that countries can only sell their mitigation results if they are genuinely carbon-negative.
The minister highlighted that the effects of climate change have recently become evident in Suriname, such as severe windstorms and drying rivers in the interior. He also emphasized Suriname’s efforts to overcome bureaucratic barriers that hinder access to climate financing.
Whether the COP 29 conference in Azerbaijan will be successful remains uncertain. Countries seeking climate funding had hoped for larger amounts. Dasai mentioned a target of $1.3 trillion per year but acknowledged that industrialized nations are unable to provide this. Instead, a fund of $300 billion has been made available.
There remains significant work to be done in developing the right projects and accessing the available funds.
