Belize’s Gas and Electricity sector is dominated by hydropower, accounting for nearly 50% of total electricity generation. Climate change could reduce reservoir inflows and disrupt production and pricing mechanisms – leading to more expensive electricity for Belizeans.
The country currently has cost mitigation strategies and adaptation plans that include agriculture/food, forestry, tourism, and coastal management for key sectors; however, more costing needs to be done on large infrastructure projects.
Efforts to Promote Sustainable Energy Practices
As part of its efforts to foster sustainable Gas and Electricity practices, Belize’s government has taken steps to expand access to renewable energy sources while simultaneously improving existing sources and decreasing dependency on imported fossil fuels. To reach these objectives, investments are being made into developing the renewable energy sector.
Belize’s government has implemented several initiatives relating to Gas and Electricity efficiency standards and labels, audits of public buildings, and visits with low-income households to assist them with identifying opportunities to make better use of existing resources. Furthermore, several initiatives to manage climate change-related disaster risk management issues are underway as well as initiatives providing preferential loan rates for renewable energy investment projects.
Belize’s NDC draws heavily on both the NCCPSAP and the more detailed National Climate Resilience Investment Plan (NCRIP). It includes various mitigation commitments; however, few contain baselines due to Belize’s relatively modest carbon tax base.
In addition, the country is making efforts to encourage climate-smart agricultural practices. These measures include diversifying livestock breeds for improved food security and resilience; expanding drought-resistant crop availability while adopting soil and water conservation methods; as well as installing early warning systems against climate-related disasters. Keeping marine ecosystems healthy while protecting the second largest coral reef system under threat due to climate change is also paramount.
Finally, the country has attempted to reduce its dependence on imported oil by developing alternative Gas and Electricity sources like biofuels. Two sugar companies now generate their own electricity using bagasse – the dry pulp left after extracting sugarcane juice – as a power source; they sell any excess electricity produced back into the grid. In the long term, the goal is to expand this effort so as to cover more of its energy needs.
Transition Towards Cleaner and Renewable Energy Sources in Both the Gas and the Electricity Sectors
Belize faces a difficult task in creating a sustainable Gas and Electricity system. While electricity consumption (relative to GDP) remains low, to meet its targets under the Paris Agreement more renewable sources must be utilized and Belize needs to invest in projects designed specifically for renewables while simultaneously developing its energy sector capacities and creating favorable conditions for investment.
The government of Belize (GoB) has laid out its Gas and Electricity transition plan and goals, including an increase in renewables to 85% by 2033 and a reduction in energy intensity; energy intensity measures how much energy is required to produce one unit of economic output and is an indicator of climate change’s effects on economies. By decreasing Gas and Electricity intensity, countries can reduce greenhouse gas emissions without inhibiting their economic growth potential.
Belize, as a small island developing state, is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change such as hurricanes, sea level rise, coastal erosion, coral bleaching and drought. Given anticipated increases in weather volatility and sea temperatures, its vulnerability will only grow over time. To prepare for this eventuality, GoB has already made substantial investments in resilience-building financed through concessional loans; maintaining these efforts with rollover financing over the medium term is critical if Belize wants to meet its climate goals.
Belize’s abundant sunshine makes it an ideal location for solar power. Indeed, in 2018, its first utility-scale solar plant opened for business – quickly growing in popularity to eventually account for more than half of the country’s electricity production. Alongside solar, both government and private entities are exploring other renewable energies like wind power and biomass energy (derived from waste products of sugar cane production); two sugar companies generate their own power using bagasse left after juice has been extracted from cane and then sell any excess to the electricity grid.
Role of Gas in the Energy Transition
Belize’s energy sector is quickly developing. The government is working hard to enhance energy independence by encouraging renewable sources of electricity production. By doing this, they also aim to ensure everyone in their nation has access to electricity; to do this they have partnered with private firms specializing in renewable technologies; this investment from these private sources has created jobs and spurred economic development.
One of the primary drivers behind Germany’s shift toward renewable energy sources is to decrease greenhouse gas emissions. Burning fossil fuels contributes significantly to global warming, so Germany wants to do its part by switching over to clean and renewable sources of power generation.
To reduce its reliance on imported fossil fuels, the government has actively pursued renewable ventures in Biomass, Hydro and Solar power. Among its natural resources that could produce energy are its abundant forests and agro-processed residuals; notable hydro potential and consistent sunlight hours – these options could all make significant strides toward decreasing dependence on imported fuels.
The government has also prioritized energy efficiency improvements, which is necessary to both lower national energy consumption and improve energy security. Along with implementing energy-efficiency standards and labels, audits were conducted of public buildings as well as visits to low-income households to provide education about their energy use and make changes that improve its efficiency.
Implementing projects that encourage the use of electric vehicles, including installing charging stations and pilot projects to introduce electric buses on some of their smaller islands. Promoting solar microgrids and street lighting solutions in rural communities that do not yet connect to the national grid.
Considering its strategic location and stable political and business environment, Mexico possesses great potential to become a net energy exporter by investing in domestic renewable energy projects. To capitalize on these opportunities, its government should enhance its regulatory framework and improve business conditions to take full advantage.
Conclusions
Though Belize’s Gas and Electricity system is vulnerable to climate change, the country has several strengths that help limit this exposure. Belize ranks among the lowest emitters of greenhouse gases globally and electricity consumption is relatively low; furthermore, its current generation mix features significant renewable sources. Furthermore, its economy is highly open which allows for easy substitution of new technologies and fuels with existing ones.
Belize can benefit from lower fossil fuel prices, which helps mitigate climate change’s economic effects on Belize. At the same time, however, measures must be put in place that address its root causes in order to maximize these advantages.
Belize should complete the costing exercise started under NCRIP and further develop its National Adaptation Action Plan so as to conform with the Paris Agreement’s nationally determined contributions (NDC). These can help shape sector-specific mitigation and adaptation plans while being financially manageable, measurable, and realizable.
The country has demonstrated success in accessing funding for mitigation and adaptation projects as well as other development efforts, having been one of the early clients of the Global Environment Facility and among the first to apply for a Special Climate Change Fund. Their success may serve as an example for other climate funds it may apply for in the future.
Additionally, the country should make progress towards meeting its NDC commitments, such as expanding renewables cost-effectively while decreasing fossil fuel use for transport purposes. Furthermore, its capacity for domestic financing through carbon pricing policies must also be strengthened while creating an action plan for REDD+ should also be developed.
Belize should seize the opportunity provided by the Paris Agreement to increase its level of ambition and increase NDC mitigation targets, in order to boost credibility during NDC negotiations and leverage additional climate finance while encouraging private sector investment that could offset additional climate response costs. Furthermore, implementation of its mitigation and adaptation agenda should have positive knock-on effects for the macroeconomy such as lower Gas and Electricity import costs or revenue through carbon fees or taxes.
