At COP29, large developing countries strongly rejected a private proposal suggesting $200-300 billion in climate finance for emerging economies, calling the amount “unacceptable.” Bolivia’s negotiator, Diego Pacheco, speaking for the Like-Minded Developing Countries (LMDC) group, said, “We are unable to fathom this $200 billion to step up ambition in developing countries,” adding, “Is it a joke?”
Developed countries, including the EU, are still negotiating the amount of finance they will provide under the new climate finance goal (NCQG). Germany’s climate envoy, Jennifer Morgan, stated that the EU is working on a “modern and fair” approach but has not yet disclosed a concrete number.
Developing countries also voiced frustration over a lack of progress on emission reductions. Pacheco criticised the talks as “totally imbalanced,” focusing too much on mitigation without addressing the finance and adaptation needs of vulnerable nations. “All we hear is mitigation, mitigation, and more mitigation,” he said.
On Wednesday, Germany’s climate envoy, Jennifer Morgan, emphasised that the EU is taking the issue seriously, aiming for a feasible yet ambitious goal. She stated that no EU or German figure has been set because they are striving for a fair and modern approach to climate finance.
As COP29 progresses, time pressure is mounting.
Australia’s environment minister Chris Bowen reported that the figures under consideration for an overall “mobilised” climate finance goal of $1.3 trillion include $440 billion, $600 billion, and $900 billion, all proposed by developing countries. Egypt’s environment minister, Yasmine Fouad, noted that debates over the structure of the climate finance goal are ongoing, with differing views on whether private investments should be included.
With the conference nearing its end, WWF’s Stephen Cornelius called for urgent political guidance, as key issues such as the size of the finance goal, who will contribute, and how funds will be allocated remain unresolved. He urged COP29 leadership to use their authority and diplomacy to reach an ambitious agreement by the summit’s close on Friday.
The U.S. embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, has temporarily closed following intelligence indicating the possibility of a significant airstrike on the city. Greek, Spanish, and Italian embassies have also suspended public operations, citing similar security concerns, with Italy specifically referencing the risk of a high-intensity attack. The U.S. embassy has advised its staff and American citizens in Kyiv to remain prepared to shelter in place as air raid sirens continue to sound across the capital.
In response to the ongoing conflict, the White House is set to announce a $275 million military aid package for Ukraine, which will include artillery, rocket systems, and anti-tank weapons. The U.S. has, for the first time, approved sending anti-personnel mines to Ukraine, a controversial decision given the long-standing criticism from human rights organisations regarding the indiscriminate dangers posed by such weapons. U.S. officials have clarified that these mines are intended for defensive use within Ukraine’s borders.
Meanwhile, geopolitical tensions are intensifying as Russia updates its nuclear doctrine to include the use of nuclear weapons in response to aggression from non-nuclear states allied with nuclear powers. Despite this development, the U.S. has refrained from altering its nuclear posture, dismissing Russia’s actions as provocative and irresponsible rhetoric. At the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, President Biden’s recent decision to allow Ukraine to target Russian territory with long-range U.S.-made missiles has added further strain to diplomatic relations. Biden avoided direct engagement with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, reflecting the complexity of navigating shifting U.S. policy and the uncertainties surrounding President-elect Trump’s future approach to the conflict.
The Mopan River started rising rapidly this morning after being flooded for the past three days. Tropical Storm Sara dumped over forty inches of rain in neighboring countries, and all that water is now flowing through the river system into Belize. Today, the Mopan River overflowed its banks and spilled onto the highway in San Jose Succotz, forcing authorities to close part of the road to motorists. Residents in the village and in Benque Viejo Town remember the river rising even higher back in 2020, but this is the worst it’s been since then. Tonight, there’s a lot of uncertainty about when the floodwaters will recede, and life will return to normal. News Five’s Paul Lopez reports.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
This morning, the Mopan River, which flows through Benque Viejo Town and San Jose Succotz, started rising quickly. By mid-morning, two sections of the highway in Succotz were submerged under a couple feet of water. Local authorities had no choice but to close the road. All this flooding is the result of water flowing in from neighboring countries after Tropical Storm Sara. It is just before midday in San Jose Succotz and over night the Mopan River has risen to heights that have overtaken a portion of the highway in the village. This portion of the highway leads through the village into the Benque Veijo Del Carmen Town. This is one portion of the highway where we are currently standing that authorities in the community have decided to close. Today, residents were out in force, watching as the river continued to swell and flood the highway. We spoke with one villager who has been keeping a close eye on the rising waters over the past few days.”
Voice of: Succotz Resident
Voice of: Succotz Resident
“Yesterday we came down and there were no water on the streets on the road. This morning when we came down I saw motorcycles going and people walking. But, it was not coming up to there. It was only where you see the yellow ban. Up to there was the river, now I see it much deeper. It is raising more. It is very alarming because we are trapped here we can’t go out.”
Despite the road closure, some residents were wading through the floodwaters. One person even took the opportunity to swim in the flooded drain, while others rode by on bicycles. At the village entrance along the river, a store owner was busy evacuating as the floodwaters had already started to seep into her shop.
Janet Dart
Janet Dart, Store Owner
“Last night I mih the eena my bed and my husband that is all the way in Colorado called me and tell me ih the watch the news from Melchor and the river the rise and mek I come deal with everything. So I reach here about seven, lee bit before seven and the water mih deh way over that side, just mih the start come in, but now. Good thing they come tek the stuff out. So, we nuh really the build much worries, other than the mud cleaning afterwards.”
Paul Lopez
Paul Lopez
“We are now at the second portion of the road that is closed just outside of San Jose Succotz. This is the entrance to Benque Viejo Del Carmen Town. And If you look behind me there is a bridge that connects Benque to San Jose Succotz. That is completely inundated by water. As a result, authorities had to close it. And again the only way to get to Benque is through that detour that we took moments ago.”
The detour winds through the hills of San Jose Succotz, taking a less-traveled path. It’s far from ideal, with some rough patches along the way, but it served its purpose. Benque Viejo Mayor Jorge Rosales was on-site, overseeing the much-needed road repairs along the bypass.
Jorge Rosales
Jorge Rosales, Mayor, Benque
“Seeing this we have to may sure the bypass is open. The road going down here is very deteriorated, because everything is rock is hard to fix. But we kind of made it easy to go down and not to come up. By the east side here by Vegas house we fix the next road which will be getting ou from Benque going into Succotz and this one goes into Benque. At the same time the truck coming from Guatemala are not able to come through, nor the buses like Fronte Del Norte they are not coming in..”
With the main road closed and large trucks and buses barred from using the detour, several tourists traveling by bus through the Belize-Guatemala border found themselves stranded with little to no information. We spoke with one tourist from Denmark who was on his way to Caye Caulker.
Clara Lendqvist
Clara Lendqvist, Tourist
“We learnt a little bit about the bad weather and the hurricane and stuff like that. But we didn’t think it would be this hard to get into Belize. We are going to Caye Caulker so we also need to get the ferry.”
Paul Lopez
“So what’s the update for you all right now?”
Clara Lendqvist
“Right now we are in a little waiting position. Four of our friends went to get some cash and hopefully we could get a taxi.”
In the heart of Benque, Benedict Palacio has been sitting on his back porch for the past few days watching the Mopan River rise. Being so close to the river usually offers stunning views when the water levels are normal. But on days like these, it’s a whole different story.
Benedict Palacio
Benedict Palacio, Benque Viejo Town Resident
“We have done our mitigation. We have put our sandbag there, because we believe if it gets worst than this we have our basement downstairs and we wouldn’t want that to be flooded out. That would be the worst-case scenario for us. But I don’t think that will happen. I don’t think it will get worst than this. At least that is what I am praying for and keeping my fingers crossed.”
Prime Minister John Briceño returned to Belize on Friday, just in time for Tropical Storm Sara’s arrival over the weekend. In a televised address later that day, he urged Belizeans to stay calm and follow their emergency plans, especially those in low-lying and flood-prone areas. Earlier today, PM Briceño joined National Emergency Coordinator Daniel Mendez for a flyover of the affected regions. The sight was overwhelming, with water everywhere and large swaths of farmland submerged. This afternoon, we caught up with the Prime Minister in San Ignacio, where he was touring with several area representatives, including Michel Chebat, Alex Balona, and Orlando Habet. Here’s what he shared with us.
Prime Minister John Briceño
“After we looked at the record rains that we had over the weekend and looking at some of the images of the flooding that was taking place, especially here in San Ignacio, Santa Elena, Bullet Tree and in some other villages, I think it was important to come and take a firsthand look as to what has happened and the amount of damage and see what is it that we can do to rebuild and try to assist the people in this area.”
Reporter
“You have been on a [flyover], what is your assessment of the current situation and the situation coming down the river?”
Prime Minister John Briceño
“It’s lots of water. I flew all the way up to the Chalillo Dam, all the way Caracol, actually. We went into the Belize River Valley, all the way by Maskall, that whole area. We saw the Chalillo Dam, it’s overflowing, lots of water. More and more water is going to be coming down the Macal [River] and onto San Ignacio and Santa Elena and onto the villages in these areas. Our hope is that it does not rain because if it doesn’t rain, the waters are still running out and hopefully the flooding will not be as bad. It becomes serious when you have lots of rain and all of the water is coming down. We have to take into account that we have waters coming in from Guatemala. The concerns about these waters coming from Guatemala is that a lot of these villages, most of the citizens are very, very poor and they have latrines right next to the river.”
In other parts of the Cayo District, the Prime Minister reports that hundreds of acres of farmland are underwater. This spells trouble for farmers in Valley of Peace, who are facing significant losses in vegetables and other crops. The Prime Minister’s aerial damage assessment hasn’t yet included the costs.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“Here in the plains in Cayo, Santander, hundreds of acres of cane land are under water. Lots of small farmers have lost their crops, the vegetables in Cayo Central, by La Gracia, also by mile seven, that area. We have a lot of farmers that grow vegetables and their vegetables and crops are under water. Over all, what we are seeing is a lot of infrastructure damage like, for example, what we are seeing here. This small bridge that connects to St. Martin Primary School, and agricultural crops. Our small farmers are losing and we have to see, how we can fix the infrastructure, infrastructure that can now hold the kind of water that is running down and also to work with our small farmers and see how we can help them.”
Paul Lopez
“What’s the initial cost or is it too early to determine?”
Prime Minister John Briceño
“I think it’s way too early to determine. Captain Mendez was with me on the flyover, from NEMO, and they have their assessment team outside. So it’s going to be quite substantial, unfortunately, but we have to find a way. But we Belizeans are resilient and we will find a way how to rebound and to rebound even better.”
The Briceño administration recently approved an additional one point five million dollars for the National Emergency Management Organization to aid in recovery efforts. However, in the coming days, the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing is also expected to submit an estimated cost for repairing the damaged roads across the affected areas.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“We just approved in the budget for NEMO, in the last supplementary budget, I think we had one point five million dollars. So we have to make that available and I am sure that when we speak with Minister Espat from MIDH and their team, and they come to tell us the level of damage that our highways and in the north, the sugar roads, roads for farmers, village roads, village streets, the amount of damage that they’ve had… It’s going to be substantial. Let’s see how we could assess the damage and get it done. I think that what we want to see is that the central government gets the work done. We work closely with the mayor, I believe we respect him and he is quite active in the work that does here, certainly in the twin towns and we are here to serve the people.”
Paul Lopez “What can you tell us about residents living beyond the Bullet Tree Bridge and what they can expect by way of some sort of aid from government or any agency?”
Prime Minister John Briceño
“The very same thing that we said we were going to do in all the villages. In these areas, the area representatives are making assessments. For instance, I think it was Calla Creek that also had some record flooding but the water ran off but there was damage to property.”
The National Met Service reports that Middle Caye bore the brunt of the rain from Tropical Storm Sara. This small coral island, one of four along Glover’s Reef in the Stann Creek District, was drenched with a staggering seventeen inches of rainfall. A forecaster told News Five today that Middle Caye received the lion’s share of the storm’s downpour.
Via phone: Francisca Wellington
Via phone: Francisca Wellington, Weather Forecaster
“San Ignacio for the Friday to Sunday, they recorded over three inches of rainfall. That goes for Santa Elena and Bullet Tree and then for Benque it’s over four inches. We have another station up in the Cayo District. It’s called Black Rock. It’s near the river and that recorded over four point five inches. In Belmopan there were six inches of rainfall from Friday to Sunday. We had over ten inches from Friday to Sunday and then out in the cayes. Middle Caye recorded over seventeen inches between Friday and Sunday. Remember now, the rain is not only occurring in the country of Belize. It was also occurring over in Guatemala and some of our rivers, especially the Macal River, Mopan River, this area. These rivers come from those areas as well over Guatemala. So all of that rainfall is coming down through our rivers.”
While most of the rain fell over Middle Caye, Hydrologist Tenielle Hendy explained today that the mountains to the south and west of Belize received the bulk of the rainfall. This is causing significant flooding out west. So, even though Middle Caye got a whopping seventeen inches of rain, it’s the Cayo District, which only received about four inches, that’s dealing with severe flooding.
Tenielle Hendy
Tenielle Hendy, Hydrologist
“For the central areas of the country mainly, we’re seeing flood warning in effect for those rivers. The Mopan, Belize River, Sibun River, going into the south, we’re now seeing the City River, the Bladen and Swayze branches of the Monkey River, and all those emanating off the eastern slopes of the Maya Mountains. We’re still seeing flooding and flood warning for those areas. What we do have still is the landslide threat. The landslide threat is positive for the next twenty-four hours, and it’s showing mainly in that Hummingbird Highway, Southern Highway into the south back west, towards the border with Guatemala is showing a positive indication for landslide threats. We have focused on the San Ignacio region, and like I said, it’s nine point six meters, so between twenty-seven, thirty, thirty-one feet of water we’re seeing there. The same we’re seeing now in the Mopan, where more between twelve to fifteen feet of water at the highest recorded extreme. For Crooked Tree, it’s increasing, but it’s not that it’s going to cover the causeway. We at this point, we do have reports of certain parts of the village being flooded at this time, but so far, based on the data that we’ve collected, San Ignacio has received the highest flood levels that we have seen with the passage of Tropical Storm Sara.”
In Roaring Creek, the floodwaters from Tropical Storm Sara over the weekend are making their way from western Belize through the rivers and tributaries towards the Caribbean Sea. This means the Macal, Sibun, and Belize Rivers are among the main ones flooding right now. The water has already submerged the old bridge in Roaring Creek and is creeping under the newly elevated bridge, leaving several homes under several feet of water. Today, News Five caught up with two residents who were out surveying the scene. News Five’s Marion Ali reports.
Marion Ali, Reporting
Even though Roaring Creek is more centrally located, it has low-lying areas that are prone to flooding. Shenell Trapp was out in the flood with a canoe.
Shenell Trapp
Shenell Trapp, Roaring Creek Resident
“We’re having an experience of our life, you know, helping people and having fun fishing, touring.”
Delmarie Gordon says that so far, Sara has not affected her, unlike previous storms.
Delmarie Gordon
Delmarie Gordon, Resident, Roaring Creek
“Ih nuh too bad.”
Britney Gordon
So nothing went into your house this time?
Delmarie Gordon
“No.”
Britney Gordon
Can you tell me about the times when it was bad and water went into your house, what kind of damages did you see?
Delmarie Gordon
“Ih damage all the mattresses and the stove.”
Britney Gordon
But this time you said that you left the house on Thursday. Why is that?
Delmarie Gordon
“Because I mi gone stay da mi sista house cause mi niece mi gone out.”
Britney Gordon
“So just in case that it had gotten really bad, you decided not to stay there.”
Delmarie Gordon
“Yes.”
Britney Gordon
“And your brother is still there at this time, he’s taking care of the house?
Delmarie Gordon
“Mhmm.”
Shenell Trapp said whenever the village floods, they put aside their everyday activities to help those in need in the community.
Britney Gordon
“You tell me that every time there’s a flood, this canoe gets brought out; you guys help your neighbors. Can you talk to me about that?”
Shenell Trapp
“Yes, sometimes our neighbors stay in the house and then they call for rescue or to take food for them. So last night our neighbor over there wanted to come out around eight-thirty last night and we rescued him.”
In San Ignacio, the Macal River surged above the town’s market for the first time in nearly five years. Today, it started to recede, albeit slowly. By the afternoon, market vendors were busy cleaning up. However, just outside San Ignacio in Bullet Tree, the situation looks grim. The bridge has been closed for several days, and residents beyond the Bullet Tree Bridge are either in shelters or bracing for the worst. News Five’s Paul Lopez reports.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
Crossing a flooded bridge is no small feat, which is why the Bullet Tree Bridge has been closed to vehicles. However, for some residents living beyond the bridge, crossing on foot is a necessity. They’re either braving the risks to get basic supplies or, like these two gentlemen, to get to work. We spoke with one Bullet Tree resident who was watching the scene unfold.
Alfonso Tesecum
Alfonso Tesecum, Bullett Tree Resident
“Right now it is not so bad right now. But the last time we did not see the river running so fast. But, right now the river is getting higher. This morning when I pass here, this road, the bridge was getting up, but suddenly it start to come again more higher. I see some people try to walk across it but it is dangerous right now. No vehicle could pass it because it almost reach by the police station and that will be dangerous.”
We then made our way across the pedestrian path on the bridge to hear from the residents on the other side. A large portion of the bridge was underwater, but the pedestrian path was still above water. Once we crossed the bridge, we found ourselves wading through over two feet of rushing water. On the other side we spoke with Robert Perez, a resident of the area.
Robert Perez
Robert Perez, Resident, Camalote
“Last night it went down almost at the entrance of the bridge. But by this morning around seven o’clock it already by that sign that says road closed. But by this afternoon we see it is where it is, an it is rising even more higher. It is affecting me big time because we are tacos vendors. We are across the bridge and not able to do our sales as normal. Then also I have my child that I haven’t returned home, because I cant cross the bridge. It is affecting me and as you can see here a lot of houses are already under water. Well at least one foot underwater.”
We also met a resident who, along with her family, has taken refuge in a church. She shared that her home is now submerged, and the rising river is threatening their temporary shelter, which they’ve been in since the early hours of Saturday morning. They went without potable water all weekend, but thankfully, it was restored this morning.
Voice of: Raquel Lobos
Voice of: Raquel Lobos, Flood Victim
“My uncle is back there with my aunt, because my aunt is taking care of a little old lady. They cant come out, but the river is rising and surely it will enter our house.”
Paul Lopez
“What will they do?”
Voice of Raquel Lobos
“They are on that side, seeing what it can do, but we did not expect this. We thought it was going down. But, I don’t know. It is just rising up. It is coming up and it is tough. I am in a worries right now.”
Downtown San Ignacio saw the Macal River reach Hurricane Mitch levels. Some residents saw the flood waters as an opportunity to drive their jet skis through the town. By this morning, it began to recede, and market vendors who enacted their evacuation plans on Saturday were back today to assess the damage.
Aoifa Wade
Aoifa Wade, Entrepreneur
“The water reached all the way here and you could tell all the floor is muddy and the walls they to power wash everything because the walls kept draining down. And it was not like as bad as 2020 because 2020 reached all the way to the top, but it was pretty bad. For us the wakeup sign is when it reaches the stairs behind the San Ignacio sign. It actually reached behind the bathroom area so we were like this is going to get really bad. The water just started to raise pretty quickly and we were in shock and it stayed like that for two days.”
Paul Lopez
“Have you all ever considered moving from here or why stay here?”
Aoifa Wade
“We have, because not only the weather. It is a danger to us as well, because the furniture can fall. We can get hurt. I mean, someone asked the mayor today why not move the market from the riverside. As vendors, we can’t do anything about it. We can just stay here and hope for the best.”
And so today we asked the mayor for his thoughts on relocating the market to higher ground.
Earl Trapp
Earl Trapp, Mayor, SE/SI
“It makes a lot of sense. The only good thing with being here we have the nice Macal view, but in terms of keeping the market open and service already available, I think it is a good idea to be looking at an area we can get relocate in the near future. With global warming and climate change, I don’t see it getting any better. So, you are right, we can have a lot of freak storm and river rising. I think it is an excellent idea and it is something that I will take up as a local leader and put it in consultation with the general public.”
In the meantime, as of midday, the Macal River was just below the roofs of the wooden structures on the newly built boardwalk.
Earl Trapp
“With the pressure that is coming from the Mopan River and that river is still rising. It mean that this river will take a lot longer before it recedes and before this low lying bridge becomes readily available for the people.”
