PM Briceño Delivers Keynote Address in Regional Summit in South Korea

As we stated earlier, Prime Minister John Briceño returned to the country today after attending the  World Climate Industry Expo ─ Leaders’ Summit in Busan, South Korea, where he delivered the keynote address. Briceño addressed the threats of climate change on food security and livelihoods in Belize. He highlighted the annual losses suffered by Belize’s G.D.P. due to climate change, as well as the unique economic model created through the Blue Bond. The Prime Minister called on developed nations to support developing nations in adapting to and mitigating climate change impacts on marine environments. He urged global leaders to take immediate action, rise above self-interest, and work together for the sake of the oceans, vulnerable populations, and future generations. During his time there, PM Briceño lobbied with government leaders to support Belize to access climate funding from the U.N.

Prime Minister John Briceño

Prime Minister John Briceño

“Through that agency and to that agency you have access to lots of grants and very, very low concessionary financing for climate programs that countries want to do. Unfortunately Belize, the United Nations looks at Belize as an island state but the World Bank doesn’t. And so what we’ve been doing, we’ve been lobbying with different countries. We’ve lobbed with many countries. And we lobby with the with the foreign minister from South Korea and also the Prime Minister, and they all promised that they’re going to support our efforts. Hopefully when that goes to the World Bank in November or December, we hope that we can get enough support that Belize can now become eligible to access those funds.”