FAO partners with Green Climate Fund and the Government of Belize to host Blue Economy Climate Resilience Forum
The Government of Belize through The Ministry of Blue Economy and Civil Aviation (MBECA) in collaboration with The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Representation for Jamaica, the Bahamas and Belize and Belize’s National Designated Authority to the Green Climate Fund (GCF), hosted the 2022 Blue Economy Climate Resilience Forum and Booth Fair on December 1st and December 2nd, 2022.
The two-day event was part of the Green Climate Fund readiness project entitled, “Enhancing Adaptation Planning and Increasing Climate Resilience in the Coastal Zone and Fisheries Sector of Belize”. The forum highlighted career and entrepreneurial opportunities within the blue economy and provided a platform for sharing information and community participation from vulnerable groups.
To this end, a major focus of the event was increasing awareness of the climate impacts on the coastal zone and fisheries sector in relation to women, youth, and indigenous groups. This supported the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations policy and the Green Climate Funds standards, to promote gender mainstreaming and inclusion of men, women, youth, and indigenous people for the sustainability of oceans.
The event also integrated culture, ancestral and traditional knowledge of small-scale fisheries, public and private sector engagement, to build public awareness and strengthen climate change responses within the coastal fishing communities. This approach, according to the forum organizers, has led to far-reaching conservation impacts, improved community responsiveness, and the successful implementation of climate-related policies.
Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Economic Development and Investment and National Designated Authority to Belize, Dr. Osmond Martinez, called for climate justice in addition to expanding Belize’s climate adaptation strategies. "We are enhancing the adaptation plan. Belize did not have a plan for adaptation and this adaptation is focused more within the Blue Economy, however, we need to expand into the green economy, the orange economy as time goes by, but this is a start.”
“ The World Bank is the one who have ranked Belize 8th out of 167 countries in the world and while we have to protect our coral reefs, fisheries, because of the high impacts and the high vulnerabilities of Belize to climate change, we also have the most important factor which is humanity, and humans are being affected, especially the vulnerable populations, those who live below the poverty line and as such, as need climate justice, we need to go after climate justice, because it is finance that belongs to Belizeans", the Minister strongly urged.
CEO of the Ministry of Blue Economy and Civil Aviation, Kennedy Carrillo stressed a whole-of-society approach towards the blue economy. “Belize’s Blue Economy belongs to everyone. All Belizeans should have the opportunity to benefit from our blue resources. We are proud to be pioneering one of the first Blue Economy Ministries in the region and the world built on the principle of inclusion, innovation and resilience.”
The two-day event was well supported by organizations including the Belize Association of Planners, The Nature Conservancy, Blue Economy Unit, Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute, University of Belize, Oceana Belize, Wildlife Conservation Society, National Women’s Commission, National Garifuna Council, Belize Fisheries Department, Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Human Right Activist, and the Belize National Meteorological Service of Belize.
Over the past 15 years, FAO has consistently provided assistance to Belize in several areas, including policy advice, advocacy, capacity building, emergency assistance, and resource mobilization for the food and agriculture sector. More recently, resilience building and expansion of market access have become important features of cooperation. FAO’s support continues to be instrumental today, particularly in view of the country’s commitment to achieving food security and rural development.