Flood risk and Urban development in Belize City, Belize

The document assesses future climate projections for Belize City using a Weather Generator tool, finding that while June, July, and August may see decreased rainfall and increased temperatures, October and November are projected to experience higher intensity and more variable rainfall. These changes, combined with the city's flat elevation and poor drainage infrastructure, increase the risk of severe flooding and associated health hazards. The study emphasizes the need for updated building codes, better land-use planning, and integrated climate change considerations in infrastructure design to mitigate these risks.

• Climate projections for the 2050s indicate a substantial increase in temperature and a decrease in rainfall during June, July, and August, with maximum temperatures expected to rise by approximately 2°C.
• Rainfall intensity and variability are projected to increase in the final months of the year, particularly October and November, which may be compounded by hurricanes and tropical storms.
• Belize City is highly susceptible to flooding due to its flat elevation (essentially at sea level) and a history of unplanned urban growth and inadequate drainage planning.
• Increased rainfall intensity is expected to heighten the risk of severe flooding, which may threaten poorly constructed buildings and roads and increase health risks in impoverished areas due to poor solid waste management.
• Decreased rainfall in June, July, and August could paradoxically increase flood risk because drainage channels may become blocked with garbage and debris, reducing the natural flushing effect of rain.
• Stakeholders indicate that the Belize City Master Plan (BZCMP) often results in short-term 'quick-fixes' rather than sustainable management, such as dredging the Belize River mouth, which may cause 'spill over' effects during strong storms.

APA

Chun, R., Goodess, C., Joslyn, O., & Harpham, C. (n.d.). Flood risk and Urban development in Belize City, Belize. Climate and Development Knowledge Network. http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/CARIWIG-Belize-City-Case-Study-Final-Report-April-2015.pdf

Chicago

Chun, Raquel, Clare Goodess, Ottis Joslyn, and Colin Harpham. Flood risk and Urban development in Belize City, Belize. Climate and Development Knowledge Network, n.d. http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/CARIWIG-Belize-City-Case-Study-Final-Report-April-2015.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Chun |first1=Raquel |last2=Goodess |first2=Clare |last3=Joslyn |first3=Ottis |last4=Harpham |first4=Colin |title=Flood risk and Urban development in Belize City, Belize |publisher=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |url=http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/CARIWIG-Belize-City-Case-Study-Final-Report-April-2015.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{chunndflood, author = {Chun, Raquel and Goodess, Clare and Joslyn, Ottis and Harpham, Colin}, title = {{Flood risk and Urban development in Belize City, Belize}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, url = {http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/CARIWIG-Belize-City-Case-Study-Final-Report-April-2015.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }