Belize Joins Global Effort to Protect Climate-Strong Coral Reefs

Belize has officially joined a coalition of twelve nations pledging to protect the world’s most climate-resilient coral reefs. The announcement came at the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France, where Belize stood alongside countries like France, Indonesia, and Palau. The goal? To safeguard coral reefs that are most likely to survive the impacts of climate change—rising temperatures, stronger storms, and warming seas. The pledge is being led by major conservation groups including the Wildlife Conservation Society, WWF, The Nature Conservancy, and Papua New Guinea. It calls on countries to weave reef protection into their national climate and biodiversity plans, reduce local threats, and support community-led conservation efforts. Prime Minister John Briceño addressed the conference, saying: “As a small developing nation, our valiant conservation efforts alone can’t shield our oceans. The impacts of climate change are too big for any one country. We need global teamwork to protect our oceans for future generations.” The initiative is backed by cutting-edge science, including the upcoming “50 Reefs+” analysis from WCS, and has early support from Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Global Environment Facility. Belize’s commitment is another bold step in its long-standing leadership in marine conservation, and a reminder that even small nations can make a big impact when it comes to protecting our planet.