CEO of Economic Development shares his thoughts on COP 27

A small delegation of Belizeans is in Egypt for COP 27. The country is hoping that meaning policy to tackle climate change is implemented at the 27th Session of the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27). Belize is among the many countries at the event being severely affected by climate change. The previous event was said to be a failure that produced no meaningful plans of action to tackle the global crisis. CEO of Economic Development, Dr. Osmond Martinez, who is the Designation Authority for the Green Climate Fund, shared his expectation for COP 27. 

Dr.Osmond Martinez, CEO, Ministry of Economic Development: “Well I do hope that something positive will come up. We will continue to do our part in terms of being responsible in our national determined contributions our NDCs. We will continue to improve in the indicators that had been established our NDCs and which contribute to the sustainable development goals but we will also continue to develop the proper infrastructure to have that capacity to absorb climate finance and we will go after climate finance. Now more than ever we will be more aggressive. Why? Because Belize has become a carbon sink for many years so Belize has been ripped financially from developed nations who are producing all this carbon and which is contributing to climate change while Belize is the one who is becoming the carbon sink and enabling an environment for the developed nations to continue to make money. So they will have to pay and we are not asking for any monies that are free. We are not asking for donations. We will not ask for anything that is not for the Belizean people. We will ask what is rightfully for the Belizean people and they will have to pay for us to be used a carbon sink. The Belizean people deserve better, the Belizean people are responsible in terms of our contribution of CO2 emissions and any time there is a small development, any initiative from the government there is always environmental obstacles simply because it will contribute to the impact of climate change. So we will have to ask what is ours.”

Dr. Martinez further explained that while Belize’s delegation was small it was important for the country’s representatives to participate. 

Dr.Osmond Martinez, CEO, Ministry of Economic Development: “The reason the reason there is not a big group representing Belize at COP27 but we need representation. Why ? Because when these agreements are signed if you’re not there they will sign on your behalf so you need to have representation. COP27 is very serious in terms of if you’re present we sign, if you did not show up then that means you don’t care and we will sign on your behalf that means you have agreed and we need to monitor everything. That by itself shows that even though the few persons that are representing Belize at COP27 they’re making a sacrifice because no one wants to be away from their family right now. Every Belizean that loves Belize wants to be in Belize to help and going there is like you have a double mind. I’m there in Egypt but at the same time I want to be in Belize and we need the representation so that our interests and our position is also put in any agreement that comes out from COP27.”