Blue Economy Minister Skips COP30, Cites Smarter Climate Strategy

The global climate conversation is heating up again, this time in Belem, Brazil, where COP30, the thirtieth Conference of the Parties to the UN Climate Change Convention, officially kicked off today. Belize is at the table, represented by a delegation from the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Climate Change. But one familiar face is missing, the Minister of the Blue Economy, Andre Perez. When we caught up with him over the weekend in Caye Caulker, we asked why he chose to sit this one out. His response? It’s all about strategy.

 

Andre Perez, Minister of Blue Economy

“You know, the only one I’ve been to was COP26 in Glasgow. Went there and I learned a lot. However, I’m not shooting it down, I’m not criticizing it, but, you know, we are there making our voices heard which is important. As a small nation, a small island developing nation, we have to make our voices heard. But, you know, it doesn’t make sense for us to have a whole entourage to go there, to Brazil. I haven’t been there since 202. Certainly, we have to be strategic. For example, this year there was the ocean’s conference. We believe that was extremely important and, actually, we came with takeaways from Marseille. The prime minister was there and we came back successfully. So it was worth it. I think we have to pick our places. I am happy that people from Belize are there. In fact, they mayor of Belize City and the mayor of San Pedro are there as well, and that’s fine. That’s fine. I believe that my ministry can allocate our energy and resources elsewhere. But again, we’re being represented good from the Belize side.”

 

Perez says it’s not about dismissing COP but about making smart choices with limited resources, and ensuring Belize’s environmental priorities are addressed where they matter most.