Belize Has New Chief Climate Change Officer

The Ministry of Sustainable Development and Climate Change announced the appointment of Edalmi Pinelo as the new Chief Climate Change Officer at the National Climate Change Office. Pinelo takes over from Dr. Lennox Gladden. She holds a master’s degree in Disaster Risk Management and Climate Governance from the University of Isabel I in Spain and a bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Management from the University of Belize. 

Dr. Gladden was recently appointed as the director of the ICAT regional climate action transparency hub in Central America. 

Before this role, Pinelo worked as the Greenhouse Gas Inventory Officer at the same ministry. She led efforts to update the national greenhouse gas inventory, managed forest initiatives, and organised training for forestry stakeholders.

In an official statement made by the Ministry, it said, “Ms. Pinelo’s influence extends beyond national boundaries through her active participation in international climate negotiations. She served as the Coordinator for Transparency for the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) during multiple Conference of Parties (COP) events. Her expertise in data collection, technical analysis, and climate policy has garnered recognition through various certifications and her involvement in high-level climate conferences.”

Collin Mattis who was the Deputy Chief Climate Change Officer also left. We understand that he will be working with the U.N.