Our Work on the Sustainable Development Goals in Belize

Sustainable development efforts remained grounded to Belize’s implementation of its Growth and Sustainable Development Strategy 2016-2020. This national development plan is underpinned by Agenda 2030 and the SDGs. In 2018 Belize demonstrated its leadership role within the region to advance discourse on energy, environment and migration, key issues within Central America. On the other hand, Belize hosted a High-Level Meeting to review progress on SAMOA pathway and challenges of SIDS with Caribbean SIDS. For the government of Belize, investing in the blue economy - oceans and seas is a priority and bedrock to its tourism industry. Legislation to ban styrophome and single-use plastics by April 2019 were passed. These national efforts and the moratorium on off-shore oil exploration resulted in UNESCO’s de-listing of the Belize Barrier Reef System from the list of World Heritage Sites in danger. Belize was proud of its efforts in this regard. The work of the UN country team to support to the Government of Belize in advancing the achievements of the SDGs and support for Agenda 2030 reflects a concerted effort to integrate support for mainstreaming the SDGs into sector plans and policies and building national capacities to monitor and report on SDG implementation. The UN’s support to Belize is provided through the operationalization of the UNMSDF as articulated in the 2018 CIP.