Belize

Belize is highly vulnerable to climate change and natural hazards due to its location in the Atlantic hurricane belt, low-lying coastal geography, concentration of population and economic assets along the coast, and dependence on climate-sensitive sectors such as tourism, agriculture, fisheries, and marine ecosystems. The country faces recurrent and intensifying risks from hurricanes, tropical storms, coastal and inland flooding, storm surge, drought, sea-level rise, coastal erosion, coral bleaching, saltwater intrusion, and ecosystem degradation. These hazards threaten lives, livelihoods, infrastructure, water security, food systems, biodiversity, public finances, and long-term development. Strengthening multi-hazard early warning systems, climate-resilient infrastructure, coastal zone management, ecosystem-based adaptation, disaster risk financing, and risk-informed land-use planning is therefore essential for reducing Belize’s climate and disaster risk.

Figure 1.

Belize Climate Resilience and Adaptation Tourism Masterplan
Belize is highly vulnerable to climate change and natural hazards because its exposure is both geographic and structural. The country lies in the Atlantic hurricane belt, has extensive low-lying coastal areas and offshore cayes, and depends heavily on climate-sensitive sectors such as tourism, agriculture, fisheries, coastal ecosystems, water resources, and marine biodiversity. These conditions mean that hazards such as hurricanes, tropical storms, storm surge, flooding, drought, sea-level rise, coastal erosion, coral bleaching, and saltwater intrusion can rapidly become national development, fiscal, livelihood, and infrastructure crises.

Belize’s risk profile is strongly shaped by its coastal concentration of people, assets, and economic activity. The World Bank notes that nearly 60% of Belize’s population lives near the coast, while more than one-third resides in low-lying areas, increasing exposure to hurricanes, floods, and coastal erosion. It also ranks Belize among the most vulnerable small island developing states for disaster and climate risk. (World Bank) Belize’s Updated NDC similarly highlights that significant portions of the coastline are only one meter or less above sea level, making sea-level rise a major threat to coastal communities, ecosystems, infrastructure, and livelihoods. (UNFCCC)

The country is also highly exposed to hydrometeorological hazards. Belize experiences an annual hurricane season from June to November and, between 1995 and 2021, was affected by nine tropical storms and eight hurricanes. (IISD) Beyond hurricanes, Belize faces floods, droughts, landslides, coastal erosion, and, to a lesser extent, earthquake risk, particularly in the south. A World Bank/GFDRR disaster risk financing document identifies hurricanes, tropical storms, earthquakes, droughts, floods, and landslides as key hazards affecting the country. (World Bank)

Climate change is expected to intensify this risk environment. Observed changes already include rising air temperatures, more hot days, warmer sea surface temperatures, and declining rainfall trends. The IISD climate risk profile reports a 0.45°C rise in mean annual air temperature since 1960, 67 more hot days per year from 1960 to 2003, and an approximate 1.25°C rise in average sea surface temperatures from 2004 to 2024. (IISD) Future projections indicate further warming, more extreme heat, changing precipitation patterns, increased flood risk from intense rainfall, and longer dry seasons. (IISD)

The vulnerability is not only environmental; it is also economic and fiscal. Disasters create recurrent losses, increase post-disaster borrowing needs, and disrupt national development. The World Bank estimates Belize’s average annual disaster-related losses at about US$27 million, while a major disaster could cause damages exceeding US$670 million, nearly one-quarter of GDP. (World Bank) A separate World Bank/GFDRR analysis estimated long-run average annual hurricane damage to public and private building infrastructure at US$17.9 million, equivalent to about 1.03% of GDP. (World Bank)

Belize’s ecosystems are central to both its vulnerability and its resilience. Coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds, coastal wetlands, and marine protected areas support tourism, fisheries, biodiversity, shoreline protection, and community livelihoods. However, these same systems are threatened by sea-level rise, ocean warming, ocean acidification, coral bleaching, storm damage, erosion, and changing rainfall patterns. Belize’s NDC emphasizes that coastal wetlands and coral reefs provide important adaptation co-benefits by helping protect vulnerable communities and livelihoods. (UNFCCC)

National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO)

The National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) https://site.nemo.org.bz was established on the 1st February 1999 after category 5 Hurricane Mitch threatened Belize for five days in October of 1998. NEMO was established to prepare for and respond to Hurricanes and Flood. It has now expanded its mandate to include other hazards. NEMO is the sole Government of Belize Department and authority responsible mandated to keep Belize in a state of preparedness for any emergency that may require a national response. NEMO Department is the full-time government department responsible for the training and coordination across the public and private sector to prepare for, mitigate from, respond to and recover from disasters. NEMO is a participating state of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA). NEMO embraces Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM).

VISION Statement

A world-class NEMO, working closely with the public sector, private sector, and civil society significantly reduce risks and vulnerabilities through comprehensive disaster management (CDM) to enable sustainable development and quality of life for people in Belize.

Mission Statement

NEMO in cooperation with the respective Emergency Management Committees, and all Public and Private Agencies, is established to preserve life and property throughout the country of Belize in the event of an emergency, threatened or real, and to mitigate the impact on the country and its people.

https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/b627a79676c64aa08bd0d82bbcf3eafc

Belize

Belize

National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO)

VISION Statement

Mission Statement

DANA Final Report on Hurricane Dean

DANA Preliminary Report on Tropical Storm Arthur 2008

DANA Final Report Tropical Depression 16

DANA Final Report Tropical Storm Arthur 2008

Dana Final Report Hurricane Richard 2010

DANA Final Report Hurricane Earl 2016

PDNA- Hurricane Lisa 2023 Executive Summary

Belize CDM Audit Country Report 2024 Final

Please download the documents on Belize

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1CNWZK89gRrmCuZbM00Euwlp8cUJx7O-6?usp=drive_link