Belize Attends COP 27 in Egypt
The Twenty-Seventh Session of the Conference of Parties of the United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 27) is being held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. Like COP 26 in 2021, Belize has representation at this year’s event. Prime Minister John Briceño did not attend COP 27. But, according to United Nations Climate Change website, Minister Orlando Habet, his C.E.O. Kenrick Williams, Jose Urbina the C.E.O. in the Ministry of Energy, Servulo Baeza, the C.E.O. in the Ministry of Agriculture, and a host of other public officers are in attendance in Egypt. A release from the Government of Belize says that Minister of State Christopher Coye delivered remarks on Monday on debt swaps for climate and nature during a high-level session hosted by the International Institute for Environment and Development. According to the release, Minister Coye recounted the losses associated with hurricanes Julia and Lisa, which reportedly contributed to an average annual loss of four percent of G.D.P. Mia Mottley, the Prime Minister of Barbados, also referenced the devastation Hurricane Lisa brought upon Belize in her remarks during the opening ceremony at COP 27.
Mia Mottley
Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados
“I came here to say a few things. But, the chorus we have had from this stage has been clear. I don’t need to repeat that we have the power of choice. Every speaker on this platform has done that. I don’t need to repeat that this is the COP that needs action. All of us as a chorus have said that. I don’t need to repeat the horror and the devastation wrecked upon this earth over the course of the last twelve months since we met in Glasgow, whether the apocalyptic floods in Pakistan or the heat waves from Europe to China or indeed in the last few days in my own region, the devastation caused in Belize by tropical storm Lisa or the torrential floods a few days in St. Lucia. We don’t need to repeat it because a picture spoke a thousand words earlier. But what we do need to do is to understand why we are not moving further. One point five to stay alive cannot be that mantra. And, I take no pride in being associated with having to repeat it over and over. We have the collective capacity to transform. And I ask us, how many more people must speak before those of us who have the capacity to instruct our directors at the World Bank? Is that called the International bank for Reconstruction and Development only for the twentieth century? At the IMF which at least have been trying more at the World Bank? How many more countries must falter, particular in a world that is now suffering the consequences of war and inflation and countries therefore are unable to meet the challenges of finding the resources to finance their way to net zero. This world looks still too much like it did when it was part of an imperialistic empire.”
News Five’s Reporter Duane Moody and Camera Man Kenroy Michael are on their way to Egypt to attend COP 27. They will be bringing us coverage of the event later on this week.
