The serious adverse effects of climate change, particularly on coral reefs and forests, and the increasing intensity and frequency of severe weather events affecting human lives, are obvious around us. These impacts pose major impediments to Belize’s efforts to promote sustainable economic and social development and reduction of poverty, which are the country’s primary and overriding priorities. Belize needs to focus more strongly on building a society and economy that is resilient to the impacts of climate change.

A CDKN-funded project, Achieving triple wins: identifying climate smart investment strategies for the coastal zone, has developed a methodology to assess the potential for climate change ‘triple wins’, and tested it in four countries: Belize, Kenya, Ghana, and Vietnam.

This briefing paper, Opportunities for triple-wins development in coastal Belize, examines key actions underway to promote at Mangrove conservation and restoration along the Placencia Lagoon, Belize.

Key messages

• Belize's coastal ecosystems are threatened by climate change, limiting their ability to provide essential ecosystems services.
• A major challenge is finding policies that enable countries to move forward with economic development, whilst also addressing climate concerns.
• The triple wins matrix methodology presented here can be used to identify policies that deliver on adaptation, mitigation and development goals.
• Protection and conservation of mangroves can lead to triple wins in Belize.

Further reading:

Project homepage: Achieving triple wins: identifying climate smart investment strategies for the coastal zone
Project details: Achieving triple wins: identifying climate smart investment strategies for the
coastal zone
Research paper: An investigation of the evidence of benefits from climate compatible development