Energy Innovation at COP27, an Eyeopener for Belize  

The Government of Belize has been in the process of developing a national energy policy for the country, looking at renewable sources of energy in an effort to reduce Belize’s dependency on Mexico’s C.F.E., the Comisión Federal de Electricidad.  At COP27, there were various pavilions and countries displaying innovative ideas and technology that would provide an alternative to fossil fuels as a source of energy. In Belize, the use of solar panels and bio fuel, as well as water-generated power is already happening, but Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Public Utilities, Energy, Logistics and E-Governance, Jose Urbina, says that the side events are a real eye opener.

Jose Urbina

Jose Urbina, C.E.O., Ministry of Public Utilities, Energy, Logistics & E-Governance

“When we look at energy and climate change, decarbonization. And when we look at projects ongoing on the ground in Belize, we look at e-mobility. How do we reduce our carbon footprint? How do we educate our young students in terms of what is climate change, what is needed from the individual standpoint in terms of reducing our carbon footprint? When we look at the ministry, the ministry is currently working on an energy policy. How do we merge the energy policy with the climate change policy, with the blue economy? Because the overarching umbrella here is climate change. We all need to align with climate change and in the effort of doing so, become energy independent. And when we look at energy independence, we talk about electricity, but how do we stimulate farmers to also use waste to energy technology. But also, along with that, the discussion is also about financing. How do we make it affordable and what incentives are we going to provide our people in Belize in terms of how do we incentivize them in using technologies? Do we lower taxes? Do we provide them low interest financing through DFC and other mediums. So, there is a lot of discussion that needs to happen. And like I said at the beginning, it is very eye-opening in terms of the scope that needs to be done.”