Event: Debt-for-climate swaps in the Caribbean

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

• Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth (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

Time

16:00 CEST