Belize

Institutional Strengthening of the Department of the Environment for the Sound Management of Chemicals and Wastes in Belize.

Technical Highlights

2023 - Belize advances chemicals and waste management goals

Project Summary:

The Government of Belize has very limited capacities dedicated to the comprehensive sound management of chemicals. Belize is a Party to the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockhlom Conventions. Belize recently completed its Minamata Initial Assessment Report which has paved the way for ratification of the Minamata Convention on Mercury. The Department of the Environment is the National Focal Point for the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockhlom Conventions, and it very likely that the Department of the Environment will be the National Focal Point for the Minamata Convention on Mercury when the Government of Belize ratifies the convention. Belize has been active in the implementation of these Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) but there is much room to strengthen the country’s commitment to these MEAs such as effective and efficient implementation of the Conventions at the national level, national reporting, modernization of environmental legislation, access to state-of-the-art equipment for monitoring and analysis of chemicals and other persistent organic pollutants.

The Department of the Environment, as focal point for the above-mentioned MEAs, requires a boost to enhance and improve its performance for the implementation of these MEAs. As such the creation of a Chemicals Management Unit is key within the Department of the Environment. The core function of the Chemicals Management Unit will be the sound management of chemical and wastes in Belize in partnership with key national stakeholders and to implement the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockhlom Conventions in Belize. Chemicals Management Unit will also implement the Minamata Convention when the Government of Belize ratifies it.

Belize lacks a national strategy for the effective and efficient implementation these MEAs, hence, the development of such strategy is vital for Belize to remain engaged in the chemicals management agenda. Such national strategy will guide the Chemicals Management Unit to executive its core functions including enhancement of data collection and information exchange, reporting obligations under the MEAs.

A public awareness and outreach campaign is crucial for effective implementation of the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockhlom Conventions in Belize. Such campaign will complement Belize’s effort to comply with the mandates of these Conventions. The Department of the Environmental already have an established Public Awareness and Outreach Unit that is in change of all affairs pertaining to environmental education and sensitization to public and private entities, academia, non-governmental organizations, and the Belize public in general. Public Awareness and Outreach Unit can assist in the development of an outreach campaign on the sound management of chemicals and wastes and can lead such initiative to ensure effective implementation to impart as much information on the impacts of chemicals and wastes on the environment and public health.

To further contribute to effective and efficient implementation of the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockhlom Conventions in Belize including the Minamata Convention in future, Belize needs to become a leader in environmental monitoring and laboratory analysis of chemicals and wastes at the national and regional level. Under the GEF 5558 Project on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and in partnership with UNIDO, a gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) will be purchased to enhance the analytical capabilities of the existing laboratory at the Department of the Environment. However, in order to enhance and strengthen the Department of the Environment’s capacities to us such specialized equipment, training of laboratory staff and supply of replacement parts such as liners, septa, and columns will be required.   

Project Objectives

Project Outcomes:

• The Chemicals Management Unit within the Department of the Environment is created and the national institutional and technical capacity for the sound management of chemicals in Belize is strengthened.
• A National Strategy is developed to implement the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions in Belize, including the Minamata Convention when ratified, and information exchange and reporting mechanisms is enhanced effectively and efficiently.
• A national public awareness and outreach campaign is developed for Belize and the sound management of chemicals to sensitize the public on prevention of adverse effects of chemicals on human health and the environment is improved and promoted.
• To strengthen the existing laboratory capabilities of the Department of the Environment through training and procurement of specialized equipment for environmental monitoring and analysis for chemicals and POPs.
• Improved capacity building of existing laboratory at the Department of the Environment through training and procurement of specialized equipment for environmental monitoring and analysis for chemicals and POPs.