Climate Cases
Historic ICJ climate case concludes
Over 100 countries and international organizations presented arguments on who should bear legal responsibility for the climate crisis; the ICJ has now begun deliberations, but no end date has been announced as yet By Marco Lopez Who will bear the legal responsibility for the climate crisis? For the developing world, the answer is clear – […]
Climate Spotlight StaffCarbon Market
Progress and Pitfalls: COP29 Delivers Mixed Bag on Carbon Markets
While agreements on Article 6.2 and 6.4 of the Paris Agreement were reached at COP29 to establish carbon markets, they fall short of the global framework needed to curb fossil fuel emissions. By Marco Lopez The climate talks that recently concluded in Baku, Azerbaijan, resulted in some progress in establishing global carbon markets. Article 6.2 […]
Climate Spotlight Staff Belize
Code Red in the Blue
Data produced by the Belize Fisheries Project (BFP) shows that 17 of 20 commercial fish species are overexploited. The fisheries scientist who created that stock assessment methodology which the Fisheries Department still uses, confirms this. Information delivered under the Freedom of Information Act fails to verify the Fisheries Department’s claims of sustainable commercial fish stocks. […]
Climate Spotlight Staff Belize
The Cost of Fishing
“The Cost of Fishing” by André Habet follows the Lopez family, a three-generation fishing household from Sarteneja, Belize, as they navigate the challenges of lobster fishing. Through an immersive journey with the Lopezes, the story explores the concept of fishing effort—the labor, resources, and gear required to sustain their livelihood. Fishing effort proves to be […]
Climate Spotlight Staff Africa
Sahara Desert floods for first time in half a century
By Marco Lopez More than 100mm of rainfall in just 24 hours resulted in rare flooding across parts of the Sahara Desert. This unprecedented weather event has not occurred in 50 years – changing the topography of the typically arid landscape overnight. The Moroccan village of Tagounite – located 450 kilometers from the capital Rabat […]
Climate Spotlight Staff Action and Advocacy
El Salvador faces international scrutiny for “Political Trial” of environmental activists
The five men, were at the forefront of an over decade-long campaign to ban metal mining in El Salvador, in order to protect the country’s diminishing water sources and farmlands from continual contamination. By Marco Lopez Five environmental activists from El Salvador are currently on trial in that Latin American nation facing life imprisonment for […]
Climate Spotlight Staff 1.5 To Stay Alive
Florida Hunkers Down as Hurricane Milton Approaches
By Marco Lopez BELMOPAN, Wed. Oct. 9, 2024 – Hurricane Milton is expected to bring a large destructive storm surge along portions of the west coast of the Florida Peninsula as it makes landfall on Wednesday night. “If you are in the Storm Surge Warning area, this is an extermely life-Threathening situation. The time to […]
Climate Spotlight Staff Belize
Belmopan host successful citizen’s parade
By Andre Habet Despite initial heat concerns leading to a route change, Belmopan citizens and students enthusiastically gathered to commemorate Belize’s 43rd Independence Day.
Climate Spotlight Staff Belize
Consultations on expansion of Marine Biodiversity Zones concludes; Fisherfolk underrepresented
By Andre Habet Milestone four of the Blue Loan and Conservation Funding Agreement obliges the Government of Belize to expand Biodiversity Protection Zones in Belize’s marine space by 25% by November 2024. Luminary Management Consultation, a group out of Orange Walk District was contracted by the government to carry out 11 consultation sessions across coastal […]
Climate Spotlight Staff 1.5 To Stay Alive
Are cooler days on the horizon? WMO predicts a 60% chance of La Nina
By Marco Lopez The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is reporting a 60% chance of a turn to La Nina conditions as we near the end of 2024. A release by the organization earlier this month highlighted the relatively short-term cooling period that is likely to come from the shift. A much-needed reprieve considering the scorching […]
Climate Spotlight Staff Editorial
Climate at 2024 US Presidential Debate
The responses to the climate question from both presidential candidates paints a stark picture of the short-term future of climate action globally. By Marco Lopez BELMOPAN, Mon. Sept. 16, 2024 One thing last Tuesday’s US Presidential Debate made clear was that neither a Harris nor Trump Administration would do much to address the global climate […]
Climate Spotlight Staff 
