And while the PM was at the airport today waiting for his wife, the Special Envoy to return from an international trip, he is also getting ready to jet off to Scotland for COP26 - the climate change conference. It's a major event that, according to the PM, warrants a large delegation - in Belize's case abut 30 people. But even though Belize is a small country, he's hoping that we'll make a huge impact with the upcoming actions that the government plans to take. He told us more about it.
Hon. John Briceno, Prime Minister
"COP26 is slated to be probably one of the most important meetings that we've had, probably in history concerning the challenges that we face with climate change and Belize is no exception. We have seen the direct effects of climate change on the news. We have droughts, we've had historic floodings, the changing of weather patterns. So obviously for us, COP26 is very important. We have been preparing from the Minister for Sustainable Development, the Ministry of Blue Economy, the Attorney General's Ministry, the Ministry of Finance and myself as prime minister, who has also been invited to participate in COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland."
"I think we have to stand out in what we have been doing so far. Belize has a proud record when it comes to environmental action as it is right now, the renegotiation of the paying off of the superbond and issuing of the blue bonds. We'll be taking some bold actions, we'll be reaching to what we call the 3030 initiative, which Belize have been a part of, by 2026, that is by having special space of 30% of our waters, which we'll be doing out in the blue in the exclusive economic zones so it will not be affecting all fisherfolk and to continue to find innovative ways to have funding for out conservation efforts for national parks or protected areas. And that is what the government is going to assist us on tour to achieve. Many countries now are seeing us as an example, as a trailblazer on these matters and as it is right now, a number of organizations and countries want to speak to us about that experience. How is it that we managed to accomplish something like this so successfully."
Courtney Menzies:
"I know that you mentioned the different ministries that are taking part in COP26, but is it necessary that there's such a big delegation?"
Hon. John Briceno, Prime Minister
"You have the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the CabSec, Kennedy Carrillo, all of these people. It is absolutely necessary because it affects all of these. For instance, when it comes to the issue of sustainable development, that is a protected area. The blue economy deals with the water, with the sea. The finance because there's going to be some serious negotiations when it comes to carbon credits. So the minister of State, Minister Coye, is going to be there, but also the attorney general has to be there because again, it is serious negotiations looking at what contracts will be required to be able to sign. So it is important it is an investment that is going to be paying off many, many times over for what we've been spending and some of this money is not going to be taxpayers. It's money we've been getting funding, we've been getting funding from the 5C's, and we are also as a head of state getting funding to pay towards my travel arrangements."
