Success of Belize’s Blue Economy Shared at COP28

Felicia Cruz

Director of Blue Economy, Felicia Cruz was also at COP28 in Dubai. Cruz joined several panelists for discussions on Belize’s Blue Economy. One of the panel discussions that Cruz participated in was the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance, an international coalition of governments and partners working together to facilitate an oil and gas production phase-out. Cruz says that being part of these conversations puts Belize at an advantage.

Felicia Cruz, Director of Blue Economy
“I really highlighted how Belize recently made amendments to our Referendum Act which signaled a voice for our Belizean people in any kind of offshore exploration or exploitation activity. It must go through a referendum. That was recently enacted in November this year. For us that is an extremely significant milestone for the Blue Economy as it signaled also the interest of the people to safeguard our natural resources and our natural based assets. As you know for Belize we have the longest coral reef in the western hemisphere. In addition to that, that reef is really a symbol of our world heritage. From the Blue Economy perspective, ensuring that that is safeguarded is also a significant fete for us. Today’s session divulged on other countries and their efforts to transition from fossil fuels. For Belize, our people have a heavy reliance on natural based assets and ocean resources. And therefore this really is a momentous time for us where we can see our people being involved in the decision making process and being empowered to make climate action change that is necessary now. So we highlighted that in the panel discussion today just to highlight and to ensure that Belize is at the same platform with the other countries. I also participated in the Commonwealth Secretariat National Adaptation Plan panel session. My participating in that was to highlight some of Belize’s experience in developing the first sector specific national adaptation plan which I will term as NAP. This is very significant for Belize because what it has done it allow Belize to become more climate resilience in the fisheries and coastal zone sector”