U.N. Environment Assembly: Act #ForNature

Orlando Habet

While the U.N. Secretary General had to cancel his visit to Belize, on Monday, the Fifth Session of the United Nation’s Environment Assembly commenced with national statements made by political leaders from its member countries.  Belize’s very own Minister of Sustainable Development, Climate Change, and Disaster Risk Management Orlando Habet and Chief Executive Officer Doctor Kenrick Williams are attending the session which is being held in Nairobi, Kenya.  In his statement, Minister Habet was able to draw the attention of his counterparts by speaking to the impacts of climate change and calling for action to strengthen resilience the resilience of small island developing states like Belize. 

Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development, Climate Change & Disaster Risk Management

“Belize is a country heavily dependent on its natural resources, both land and sea. Belizeans are culturally linked to the natural resources and rich biodiversity and are economically tied to the natural environment through the tourism, fishing and agricultural sector. Like many state parties here today, Belize is faced with the triple planetary crisis – the results of which threatens the very existence of S.I.D.S. The existential threats being faced by Caribbean S.I.D.S as a result of the impacts of climate change, land and marine-based pollution and ecosystem loss are well known. Our actions, founded on sound partnerships, should ensure that we strengthen resilience to these crises and other future shocks in ways that foster low emission, sustainable and inclusive growth. Belize has, within the framework of the convention on biological diversity, established strategic goals for addressing biodiversity loss. We recognize that the potential for positive interactions of environmental, economic and social systems lie at the heart of nature-based solutions.”