Belmopan, June 26, 2026.
The Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Solid Waste Management is pleased to announce the enactment of the Climate Change and Carbon Market Initiatives Act, 2026 (Act No. 13 of 2026), which establishes Belize’s first comprehensive legal framework for climate change governance and for regulated participation in carbon markets.
The Act received assent from Governor-General H.E. Dame Froyla Tzalam on June 18, 2026, and was gazetted on June 20, 2026.
Among its key provisions, the Act formalises the Climate Change Department, strengthens Belize’s institutional capacity for coordinating climate action and national reporting, and establishes the legal basis for carbon reduction and removal projects, benefit-sharing, and registry functions, ensuring that any engagement in carbon markets is governed by national priorities and public interest.
Minister of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Solid Waste Management, Hon. Orlando Habet, underscored the significance of the legislation:
“This Act puts Belize in a stronger position to advance our climate agenda on our own terms. It gives us the institutional architecture and the legal clarity to pursue low-emission development, and engage in carbon markets in a way that serves the Belizean people and reflects our national priorities.”
With the foundation now established, the next phase will focus on implementation, including supporting regulations, standards, procedures, and systems. The Ministry will continue working with national institutions, civil society, the private sector, communities, and technical partners to ensure implementation is transparent, practical, and nationally beneficial.
Ends
For more information, please contact
Mrs. Edalmi Pinelo
Chief Climate Change Officer
Climate Change Department
Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Solid Waste Management
Tel: (501) 828-5960
Email: info.cc@environment.gov.bz
Website: https://climatechange.gov.bz/
