In a fiery interview that went viral, Guyana President Mohamed Irfaan Ali clashed with BBC journalist Stephen Sackur over allegations that his country's oil extraction activities would contribute to climate change.

The exchange started when Sackur questioned Ali about the carbon emissions that would result from Guyana's plan to extract fossil fuels off its coast. He highlighted that experts estimated over two billion tons of carbon emissions would be released into the atmosphere as a result of these activities.

President Ali, visibly animated, interrupted Sackur and retorted, "Does that give you the right to lecture us on climate change?". He defended his country's environmental record, pointing out that Guyana possesses a forest the size of England and Scotland combined, storing 19.5 gigatons of carbon.

The back-and-forth intensified as Sackur pressed the Guyanese leader on whether their conservation efforts justified the release of large carbon emissions. Ali, taking a strong stance, refused to back down, asserting that he would lecture Sackur on climate change.

Ali highlighted Guyana's status as having the "lowest deforestation rate in the world" and claimed that despite the oil extraction, the country would maintain "net-zero" emissions. He accused Western nations of hypocrisy, questioning whether they were willing to pay for and value Guyana's biodiversity.

Amidst Sackur's attempts to regain control of the conversation, Ali continued to challenge the reporter's impartiality, asking if he was influenced by entities that had harmed the environment in the past.

The clip concluded with Sackur trying to bring the interview to a close, acknowledging President Ali's strong stance on the matter.

The viral video sparked a global discussion about the delicate balance between economic development and environmental responsibility. As countries like Guyana grapple with the trade-offs, it remains to be seen how the world will reconcile the need for fossil fuels with the pressing issue of climate change.

President Ali's firm stance and defense of Guyana's environmental record have undoubtedly brought the issue into the spotlight and raised questions about the responsibility of Western nations in the fight against climate change.