By Brianna Bennett

Copyright greaterbelize

Climate Change Threatening Belize’s Food Security

At the United Nations General Assembly, Prime Minister John Briceño didn’t just talk about borders, he also sounded the alarm on climate change, a crisis hitting Small Island Developing States like Belize the hardest. Briceño reminded world leaders that Belize ranks as the fifth most vulnerable small island state to climate risk, and second globally when it comes to the impacts of extreme weather. He painted a stark picture: coastal erosion eating away at our shores, rising temperatures straining the energy grid, and unpredictable rainfall leaving farmers in limbo. The Prime Minister warned that Belize’s food security and fragile ecosystems are under serious threat, calling for urgent global action before it’s too late.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“In COP 30 in Belem, Belize urges the G20, responsible for righty percent of emissions to commit to more ambitious emissions reduction target, developed nations and development banks must lead the mobilization of one point three trillion dollars in climate finance and prioritize SIDs, whose adoption and loss and damage needs are most urgent. It is high time, past time for the global financial system to reward environmental stewardship, to recognize the true value of these natural assets for long term resilience. Consider this, thirty percent of the world’s ocean lies within the jurisdiction of Small Island Developing States, much under some form of protection. This marine environment helps regulate the global climate, yet we receive little for our efforts. Only one percent of climate finance flows to SIDS, half of which are loans. Meanwhile the fossil fuel industry with trillions of dollars in subsidies annually is not just perverse, it is dangerous. Let us reverse this by investing much more in nature based and nature positive solutions. With only five years to achieve the SDG, urgency is paramount.”