The coastal town of Punta Gorda, Belize became charged with green energy from Friday August 21 to Monday August 24, when the fifth National Climate Week got underway. Hosted by the Climate Change Department (CCD) under the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Solid Waste Management, the four-day event commenced with an opening ceremony at the Punta Gorda Sporting Complex.
Following the opening ceremony, the event kicked off with a vibrant community parade and brought together participants from across the country for daily panel discussions, interactive activities, and exhibition booths. Local, national and regional agencies and organisations leveraged the opportunity to showcase their work, share knowledge and engage directly with Belizeans in practical climate solutions.
Climate week saw full public participation throughout its run. Under the central theme, “Where Innovation Meets Impact: Driving Resilience, Scaling Technology and Expanding Inclusion in Climate Action”, panelists lead discussions under 3 specific themes:
- Orange Economy and United Nations Development Programme
- Forest and Agriculture
- Blue Spaces and Technology
The NDC-TEC project presented the pilots in Saint Lucia (EVs in the government fleet) and Grenada (electric boats for Coast Guard and small-scale fisheries) with high relevance to the context in Belize to the audience to ensure regional learning.
A primary goal of Climate Week 2026 was to raise public awareness around the ongoing evolution of climate policy in Belize. Special emphasis was placed on the Climate Change and Carbon Market Initiatives Act 2026 – a landmark piece of legislation that Belize’s Minister responsible for Climate Change, Hon. Orlando Habet, highlighted as pivotal to the next phase of advancing Belize’s national climate agenda. “The government is putting the foundations in place, strengthening the legal framework, turning national commitments into investment priorities, improving the information on which decisions are made, bringing resilience into the sectors and communities where it matters, strengthening Belize’s ability to access finance and technology and making sure that Belize has a voice where decisions affecting our future are being made”, he stated.
Panelists who lead various discussions also acknowledged that climate action is integral to Belize’s overall development, shaping how the nation grows food, manages waste, protects forests and seas, and builds sustainable communities in the future.