Among small-island developing states in the Caribbean, Belize is the most likely to be impacted by climate change. The Development Finance Corporation (DFC) is promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency financing to Belize’s private sector, with an offer of up to $200K per project for upgrades and installation.
But Dr. Kenrick Leslie, Executive Director of the Caribbean Community Climate Change Center (CCCCC) (CARICOM) is unconvinced that the US$2 million investment window, financed by the DFC in collaboration with the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology and Public Utilities, will significantly impact the fate of the island.
Extremely flat compared to other Central American countries, much of Belize’s landmass lies below sea level, which is expected to rise 3mm per year. “So by the end of this century, you would have quite a bit of rise and coastal areas would be well under water,” said Leslie.
The Climate Change Center, recently accredited by the Green Climate Fund, is one regional organization that will have access to funding for projects that can address climate change, in the range of US$10 million to US$50 million. Belize will have to submit proposals to access these funds and indeed has an incentive to do so. Dr. Leslie urges “proper land use planning,” adding that this should have been done with or without climate change.
