“Small Team” Set to Head to COP 29
The United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP29, is just days away, set to take place in Azerbaijan. Following COP28, this event is another crucial opportunity for countries to be held accountable for their environmental commitments.
Belize’s Minister of Sustainable Development and Climate Change, Orlando Habet, spoke to the media today about the priorities for COP29. He said the conference will focus on financing climate change efforts and addressing the urgent funding needs of vulnerable nations, like Belize, which face the highest risks from climate change. A key issue will be scaling up the $100 billion pledge made by developed countries to support developing nations in their climate efforts. “The talk is in the trillions of dollars,” Minister Habet said.
While Belize’s delegation to the conference normally includes around 12 to 14 members from various government ministries, this year it will be much smaller. “It’s a very small team this year,” Habet explained. In addition to Kenrick Williams, the CEO of Belize’s Ministry of Sustainable Development and Climate Change, other officials from the Forest Department and the Ministry of Agriculture will attend. Belize will also send staff from its New York office, including Ambassador Carlos Fuller and one other embassy representative. Habet said that the Ministry of Agriculture is being involved in this year’s COO and will be attending through a different sponsorship.
In a previous interview, Habet stressed the importance of Belize’s participation in these international discussions to protect the country’s interests. However, Minister Mai has been more sceptical about the impact of global climate summits. “They often serve as more of a talk shop than a platform for meaningful action on climate change and other pressing environmental issues,” he said. Despite this scepticism, Minister Mai confirmed that he will still be attending COP29 in Monday’s episode of the Open Your Eyes morning show.
Habet said that the funding for the delegation will largely come from foreign sources, with only limited contributions from Belize.
Facebook Comments