In the face of multiple global crises, debt-for-climate swaps are being widely discussed as an instrument to manage mounting public debts, climate change challenges and Covid-19 recovery. Belize is a small island developing state in the Caribbean region facing these challenges. The Government of Belize has requested the Commonwealth Secretariat to provide assistance to design and implement a ‘Debt for Climate/Nature Swap Mechanism’ for the country.
This webinar aims to enhance awareness and support capacity-building of stakeholders in the Government of Belize and the wider Caribbean region, focusing on the potential of debt-for-climate swaps as an option for managing rising debt levels while investing on climate action.
Speakers
- Dr Arjoon Suddhoo, Deputy Secretary-General, Commonwealth Secretariat (keynote speaker)
- Hon. Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development, Climate Change & Disaster Risk Management, Belize
- Hon. Christopher Coye, State Minister of Finance, Economic Development & Investment, Belize
- Patrick Payet, Secretary of State, Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Trade, Seychelles
- Ruth Kattumuri, Senior Director - EYSD, Commonwealth Secretariat
- Dr. Lennox Gladden, Chief Climate Change Officer, National Climate Change Office, Belize
- Michai Robertson, Policy Officer, Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment, Antigua & Barbuda
- Edilberto Romero, Executive Director, Programme for Belize
- Unnikrishnan Nair, Head of Climate Change, Commonwealth Secretariat
- Pamella McLaren, Adviser and Head of the Debt Management Section, Commonwealth Secretariat
- Robert Weary, Chief Executive Officer, Aqua Blue Investments
- Sheldon McLean, Economist, Sub-regional Headquarters for the Caribbean, UNECLAC
- Andrey Chicherin, Head of Innovation, Technology and Co-funding Platforms, Green Climate Fund
- Vintura Silva, Head of UNFCCC Regional Collaboration Centre for the Caribbean
Resources and presentations
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Full Webinar Summary Report (PDF)Document
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Download full concept note and agenda (PDF)Document
- Blog: Averting a Dual Crisis with One Financial Instrument
- Andrey Chicherin, GCF - DfC Implementation Options (PPT)
- Edilberto Romero - Belize Debt for Nature Swap 2001 (PPT)
- Michai Robertson - Experiences from Antigua & Barbuda (PPT)
- Robert Weary - Structuring a Debt Conversion (PPT)
- Sheldon McLean, ECLAC - The case for a Caribbean DfCs (PPT)
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Patrick Payet - Seychelles-DfN Swap & Blue Bonds (PDF)Document
Contact
For more information, please contact [email protected]
