Belmopan, September 1, 2025.
The Government of Belize, through the Ministry of Economic Transformation, in collaboration with the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change, and Solid Waste Management, hosted Belize’s first National Climate Finance Forum at the Grand Resort & Residences in Belize City, under the theme “Adaptation and Resilience.” The Climate Finance Forum was convened in conjunction with Belize Climate Week, held from August 25 to 29, 2025.
The Forum brought together senior government officials, international development partners, multilateral and bilateral agencies, private sector representatives, academia, and civil society. Participants engaged in substantive discussions on aligning climate finance with Belize’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0), identifying financing gaps, and charting pathways for programmatic approaches to unlock larger-scale, multi-year climate funding.
Hon. Christopher Coye, Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance, emphasized in his opening remarks that climate finance can no longer be treated as peripheral to national development, but must instead form a central pillar of Belize’s financial landscape. He highlighted that Belize’s NDC 3.0 identifies a financing gap of US$455 million for mitigation and US$480.3 million for adaptation over the next 10 years, underscoring the urgency of mobilizing resources at scale. He stated, “Our task now is to seize opportunities—optimizing our significant carbon asset base, pursuing blended climate finance, and transitioning from single projects to programmatic approaches that can deliver transformative change. This requires not only fiscal innovation but also strong partnerships with institutions like the Green Climate Fund, Adaptation Fund, and Global Environmental Facility.”
Dr. Hon. Osmond Martinez, Minister of State in the Ministry of Economic Transformation, drew attention to the economic realities already being felt in Belize. He underscored the vulnerabilities of Belize’s key sectors: agriculture, fisheries, tourism, and infrastructure, all of which are increasingly affected by climate extremes. Minister Martinez concluded by calling on all stakeholders to support the Climate Finance Unit and partner institutions in accelerating action. “If we fail to align our development strategies with the realities of climate change, today’s villages and businesses may become tomorrow’s climate casualties. Our task is to ensure the story of our people is not one of loss, but one of resilience and opportunity,” he said.
Hon. Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development, Climate Change, and Solid Waste Management, reminded participants that Belize has contributed little to global emissions yet remains on the frontline of climate impacts. He stressed the urgency of mobilizing partnerships and finance to safeguard Belize’s future, stating, “Belize has shown leadership through its Blue Bond, its bagasse-to-energy project, and its comprehensive NDC, but we cannot achieve our ambitions alone. We need partnerships that match our ambition; financing that matches our needs; and solidarity that recognizes Belize’s frontline role. By the end of today, let us leave with a clearer roadmap, a shared understanding of where finance can have the greatest impact, and a renewed commitment to work together.”
The National Climate Finance Forum featured high-level panel discussions on aligning climate finance with Belize’s adaptation targets, unlocking access to international funds, and designing the next generation of bankable climate projects.
The Forum concluded with strong commitments from both government and development partners to continue expanding Belize’s access to concessional finance, leveraging innovative instruments such as green bonds, resilience bonds, and carbon asset financing, while strengthening institutions to better implement large-scale climate programs.
Ends
For more information, please contact:
Mr. Carlos Pol
Chief Executive Officer
Ministry of Economic Transformation
