Belize’s inclusion in regional climate change talks crucial says CEO

Belize continues to be a part of the global movement against climate change.  While the country has minimal carbon emissions to report, there is the need to mitigate the effects from the emissions coming out of the region, particularly, our neighbouring Guatemala and Mexico.  CEO in the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management, Dr Kenrick Williams, explained to Love News that it is crucial for Belize to be a part of the global dialogue to find solutions and funding for cases like the Monkey River erosion that has been destroying homes over the past few years.

Dr. Kenrick Williams, CEO, Ministry of Sustainable Development: “As a government we have to continue to find some of our national finances as well as leverage some of the financing from investors, from our development partners to make some real investments on the ground to do the roads, do the bridge, to address some of the housing and build the adaptation. But also I think we have to look at the new opportunities that we’ve not looked at for some time and you know one of those new asset class for example is carbon credits and biodiversity credits. Our ministry is leading the way in terms of trying to outline elaborate this policy for this market so that we can bring in some new money some real money to invest and address some of the real gaps that we have. But we have to be part of the global negotiations to talk about how this thing impacts the man on the ground in my country. I like to say that if you are not at the table then you are on the menu. We are feeling the impacts and we have to be part of the negotiations to say this is the impact of climate change on the farmer, this is the impact of climate change on the coastal community like Monkey River and that is what we try to do as part of these global negotiations so we have to be a part of it, we have to maintain the engagement. Secondly and the investment that we need the investment to address the issues of mitigation. The case of Monkey River for example is a costly venture and that is only one example. As this climate change thing increases then we are going to see that type of impact manifest. Look at the wildfires we had last week, that’s a reflection of the changing climate so we need the type of money, the type of investments to address mitigation and to address adaptation.” 

It is to be noted that efforts are currently being made to shore up the seafront in Monkey River Village.  The efforts are being spearheaded by Eworth Garbutt, who is confident that the use of sandbags and rocks could do the trick.