BELMOPAN, Belize, CMC – Belize has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Taiwan for a project on Climate and Ocean Risk Vulnerability Index (CORVI) data and survey collection for Belize City and its surrounding areas.
The US$300,000 project is a collaboration between the Belize government, TaiwanICDF, the Ocean Affairs Council of the Republic of China (Taiwan), and the Stimson Center, a leading think tank in the United States. Taipei is funding the project.
CORVI integrates economic, social, and environmental data to assess resilience to climate and ocean risks. The assessment uses 100 indicators and ten risk categories to provide ecological, financial, and political information.
The CORVI findings can inform government planning (i.e., adaptation and municipal plans, climate resilience strategies) and develop projects in critical sectors like the energy sector.
“The ocean plays a crucial role in the livelihood of thousands of Belizeans who rely on the fishing and tourism industries to generate incomes, which are presently affected by climate change challenges,” said the Ministry of Economic Development.
“Like many Caribbean nations facing threats to coastal regions, the time to act on these threats has been pushed to the forefront. It is hoped that the outcome of the CORVI project will also garner support for the government of Belize from the international community to continue to address the climate crisis,” it added.
The ministry said a virtual kick-off meeting was held on Monday with representatives from Belize, Taiwan, the Stimson Center, and Squared Communications, LLC.
The final deliverables, risk assessment, and an in-country workshop will be completed by October 2024.
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