BELMOPAN, Belize, May 12, CMC – Government representatives from across Latin America and the Caribbean, together with international climate experts and financial institutions, will convene in San Ignacio later this month for the 2026 LAC National Designated Entities (NDE) Forum.
The May 19-22 event is being organized by the UN Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) and hosted by the Belize government.
The organisers said that the Forum will highlight regional initiatives on climate resilience and technology deployment, bringing together NDEs to exchange best practice and strengthen collaboration on scaling solutions aligned with countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
They said these range from using AI to predict droughts and other climate hazards, to nature-based solutions such as mangrove restoration to help protect coastal communities while supporting local livelihoods.
Discussions will focus on system-level approaches, including a dedicated capacity‑building programme on the water–energy–food nexus, as well as the use of digital tools such as AI, drones, and climate data systems to accelerate climate action.
“As a small, climate vulnerable country, we know first-hand that access to the right technologies can make the difference between setbacks and resilience. Through this Forum, we aim to deepen regional cooperation, unlock new opportunities for climate smart investments, and showcase how innovation on the ground can support our NDCs while improving the lives of our people,” said the Minister of Sustainable Development and Climate Change, Orlando Habet.
The Chief Climate Change Officer, Edalmi Pinelo, said that the event “is a unique opportunity for Belize and our regional partners to move from talking about climate technologies to scaling them in practice.
“By bringing together NDEs, financial institutions and technical experts, we can identify solutions that respond directly to country needs from the water–energy–food nexus to emerging digital tools like AI and drones. Belize is committed to using this platform to strengthen cooperation, build capacity, and accelerate system-wide transformation in line with our national climate goals,” Pinelo added.
UNEP’s Regional Director and Representative, Latin America and the Caribbean, Juan Bello, said at a time when climate impacts are intensifying across Latin America and the Caribbean, such as extreme heat stress, the compounding effects of sea-level rise and coastal erosion, the damage effected upon key marine ecosystems such as coral reefs, and the vast economic impacts, strengthening the deployment of climate technologies is critical.
“Regional collaboration and knowledge-sharing platforms like this Forum play a key role in accelerating solutions that are tailored to country needs and priorities. We are pleased to see this meeting being hosted in Belize – one of the key advocates and exemplars in the Caribbean for climate and blue financing,” Bello added.
CTCN director, Ariesta Ningrum, said climate technologies are not abstract delivering real solutions on the ground in vulnerable communities in Latin America and the Caribbean.
“ In Belize, for example, CTCN has supported groundwater mapping and a national agroforestry policy in line with the needs spelled out in their NDC. In Colombia, CTCN has supported efforts to strengthen climate resilience through mangrove restoration, which protect coastal communities and create jobs. This Forum is about accelerating a shift from individual solutions to system-wide transformation that delivers impact at scale,” said Ningrum.
The four day event will also be attended by representatives from major international financial institutions, including the Green Climate Fund, Global Environment Facility, World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, as well as technical experts, CTCN Network members, and regional organizations.
CMC/ag/ir/2026