Tonight, Orlando Habet, the Minister of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management, is leading Belize's delegation to the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP 28.
But while the round of meetings for heads of government is starting - the bilateral meetings have already concluded and Belize scored big by unlocking grant funds which had gone untapped since 2015.
CEO in the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development Osmond Martinez is flying back from Dubai and - on his stopover in Paris - he gave us a press briefing via Zoom about the grants for climate adaptation which have been activated for PACT founding and to improve housing stock in vulnerable urban areas:
Osmond Martinez, CEO, Ministry of Economic Development
"So we had 15, almost 15 million dollars sitting down, of which we managed to negotiate. And there is a first approval already for PAC, which will be of five million dollars. And the five million dollars US, which is 10 million Belize will be used to improve the livelihoods in the rural areas."
"However, we still have 18 million Belize, nine million US dollars, of which we strongly believe that we should use it to develop, to continue with the housing program. But more important to the housing program for the vulnerable population."
"Hurricane Lisa, was a real eye-opener for us because we were able to see that the damage and the impact that Hurricane Lisa had in Belize City, but mostly in the poor people, people who have houses that are so fragile to any impact of climate change."
"And one of the challenges that we have, for example, is an increase in hurricanes. Therefore, we need to build houses that will be able to withstand at least category one hurricane in Belize. And so going back to plywood house, that will not be adaptation."
"And it won't even qualify within the program or the proposal that we will develop. So for me, knowing that a poor family can enjoy, a family that lives in poverty can enjoy and be the beneficiary of funds that are grant, that it won't cause anything to our taxpayers and at the same time help someone to come out from poverty.|
"I mean, that is at the top of my list, you know? And that's one of the things that I always champion, knowing that I grew up being extremely poor and that, no, we have the possibilities to help someone."
