COP28 Closes with Promises of a Better Belize

The 2023 United Nations Climate conference has come to an end after two weeks of negotiations, with several pledges in favor of Belize having been secured, in Dubai. The conference, also known as Cop28, is an annual summit where government officials from across the world convene to discuss how to counteract climate change and repair the damages already inflicted. The Belizean delegation, led by Minister of Sustainable Development and Climate Change Orlando Habet and Chief Executive Officer Doctor Kenrick Williams wrapped up negotiations on December thirteenth. Negotiating climate change solutions is a vital aspect of the summit, especially for smaller island nations and those most heavily affected. During the conference, the team secured progress in agreements such as the transition away from fossil fuels, progression in the temperature goal of the Paris Agreement, and the establishment of  historical Loss and damage that ensures that nations suffering from irreparable damages due to climate change be compensated for these losses. Belize will have seats on the Santiago Network for Loss and Damage Advisory Board and the Loss and Damage Fund Board for the 2025 term. Additionally, Belize participated in twenty-one side events, securing several partnerships with CARICOM and the Republic of China (Taiwan).