The Ocean Affairs Council, in collaboration with the National Academy of Marine Research, has joined forces with the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Foundation (TaiwanICDF), the Stimson Center, and the Belizean government, forming an international research team. From October 2 to 6 in Belize City, this team organized a workshop on the "Climate and Ocean Risk Vulnerability Index" (CORVI). Over the course of a year-long study, they will produce comprehensive risk assessment indicators and reports.
The primary objectives of this initiative are to provide the Belizean government with essential policy recommendations and to actively seek climate funds from international financial institutions for bolstering critical infrastructure. This collaborative effort is poised to make a significant impact on Belize's resilience in the face of climate change.
Like Taiwan, our ally Belize is located in a region highly susceptible to hurricanes and tropical cyclones. According to a recent study by the World Bank, Belize is ranked 8th among 167 countries for climate-related risks. Belize regularly faces challenges such as flooding, primarily caused by climate phenomena like hurricanes and storms, with the threat of coastal erosion and rising sea levels adding to the complexity of the situation.
Belize City Mayor Bernard Wagner and Dr. Osmond Martinez, the CEO of the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development, and Investment, attended the workshop's kick-off meeting. Mayor Wagner accompanied team members visiting coastal areas and underserved neighborhoods, and they witnessed firsthand the profound challenges posed by climate change to urban governance in Belize City.
The adverse effects of climate change on Belize City are widespread, including severe coastal erosion, resulting in frequent street flooding due to seawater ingress. With an average of one hurricane every 1.25 years, Belize experiences considerable GDP losses. The high population density and low-lying terrain in specific areas have left the city extremely vulnerable to extreme weather events like storm surges, floods, or droughts, all of which have become formidable governance challenges for the government.
Belize acknowledges the pressing need for empirical data and intends to involve academia and the community in the execution of this project to establish a national database. This initiative aims to secure climate funding for the city by utilizing the risk assessment indicators it generates.
The Ocean Affairs Council underscores that climate change threatens social security and brings about significant economic losses. These challenges are particularly daunting for nations like Belize, which fall within the category of low to moderately developed/developing countries. Belize, recognized by the Green Climate Fund as one of the countries most heavily impacted by climate change, requires significant support.
By collaborating with TaiwanICDF and leveraging their wealth of experience and expertise in foreign aid, the Ocean Affairs Council aims to fortify Belize's climate resilience and adaptation capabilities. Additionally, the project combines the research capacity of the National Academy of Marine Research. It builds on the experience gained through previous initiatives, such as the one in Saint Kitts and Nevis in 2021 and 2022, further enhancing the "Climate and Ocean Risk Vulnerability Index."
As a prominent global force for good, Taiwan firmly believes that international collaboration is not merely an option but a necessity. We stand ready and willing to contribute significantly to addressing this unprecedented challenge.
Sources：Ocean Affairs Council
