But, the biggest grant is from the Green Climate Fund. That one is for $78 million Belize dollars for building the adaptation capacity of sugarcane farmers.
He says it's a big project, but Belize deserves bigger because of its enhanced vulnerability:
Osmond Martinez, CEO, Ministry of Economic Development
"2015 and 2023, Belize has never capitalized in getting a big project, you know, for Belize. And what is more sad, you know, for me, and it should be for all Belizeans, is that Belize rank 8 out of 172 countries in terms of its vulnerability to the impacts of climate change."
"Therefore, if there is one country that would need a lot of help, is Belize. So, since 2015 and now, 8 years have gone, and finally, we are managing to get our first real approved project that will have an impact in our ecosystem."
"And that is one that will have a value of 78 million Belize dollars, which is significant, a significant project. And that project will impact the, it will be for building the adaptation capacity of sugarcane farmers in the northern part of Belize."
"And in parallel, we are doing, we are developing other projects for the citrus industry and the banana industry, which is also in dire need of help. Nonetheless, I am not satisfied. I believe Belize deserves more."
"When you look at our losses to GDP, it's almost 8 percent. 8 percent is our loss to GDP just from climate change and the impacts of climate change, natural disasters in general. So, when you look at our losses to what we are getting, you know, the loss and damage does not match."
