4th National CDM Workshop and MEA Sensitisation Session

The Fourth National Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Workshop was held on November 27th, 2013 at Paria Suites Hotel and Conference Centre. This workshop sought to bring closure to the CDM Project. It was also done in conjunction with the  Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEA) Sensitisation Session which was focused on engendering an understanding of, and support for, the successful implementation for the MEAs to which  Trinidad and Tobago are signatory, through increasing stakeholder awareness of the Conventions and their organisations roles in implementation.

In addition, to conclude the CDM project activities, the findings of the Reports for the project “Mainstreaming Climate Change into National Development and Capacity Building for the participation in carbon markets” were presented to raise awareness among stakeholders and identify nexuses.All the participants from former workshops were invited, as well as other important stakeholders from the energy and fiduciary sectors. All of the major MEAs to which Trinidad and Tobago are signatory were highlighted and briefly explained.

Participants at the 4th CDM Workshop 

and MEA Sensitisation Session

The major nexus between these conventions and the roles that CDM and the participants play were also identified and  explained so that participants could understand the long term vision of the MEA focal point network database. Additionally, it was also highlighted the importance of their continued participation and cooperation to work with the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources in rolling out what was also pinpointed as national initiatives and the goal of the National Climate Change Policy.

A summary of the UNEP Gap Report 2013 was also provided and a short history of the CDM and the future of carbon markets were also explained. Due to increasing challenges in CDM such as the uncertainty in the market carbon process, and the complexity of the CDM process leading to low levels of CDM activities in the Caribbean Region, the UNFCCC Regional Collaborative Centre in Grenada was established amongst other regional centres.

This Centre was formed to further aid in the growth of potential CDM projects by providing technical support and other related expert services to expand the regions carbon market potential. Potential benefits and projects were highlighted to the  stakeholders to express the level of support that would be provided for future CDM projects.

Mr. Kishan Kumarsingh (Head,  MEAU) giving remarks

 at the 4th CDM Workshop and MEA Sensitisation Session

A presentation was made by Petrotrin explaining their CDM  project, and the process it took them to reach the stage of registration. They also explained the lessons learnt going through all the steps and the potential benefits to other organisations in partnering with them under their Programme of Activity (PoA). 

To close the workshop, the way forward and the next steps for Trinidad and Tobago were outlined by identifying the national initiatives and projects such as carbon and capture and storage, the mainstreaming of climate change into national development, and the elaboration of a strategy for reducing  carbon emissions.

 

 

United Nations Climate Change Conference: COP19/CMP9

The Warsaw Climate Change Conference took place from 11 - 22 November, 2013 in Warsaw, Poland. It included the 19th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 19) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the 9th session of the COP serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP 9).

In addition, it included meetings of three subsidiary bodies; the 39th sessions of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA 39) and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI 39) and the 3rd part of the second session of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durham Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP 2).

Trinidad and Tobago was represented by Mr. Kishan Kumarsingh, Head of the Multilateral Environmental Agreements Unit (MEAU), Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR). Mr. Kumarsingh also served as the co-chair of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP) along with Artur Runge-Metzger of the European Union.

L-R Mr. Runge-Metzger (EU) and Mr. Kumarsingh (MEWR) co-chairs  of the ADP at the UN Climate Change Conference, Warsaw, Poland November, 2013.

Negotiations in Warsaw centred on the implementation of agreements reached at previous meetings, including the work of the ADP. The meeting adopted decisions that are intended to keep governments on a track towards a universal climate agreements in 2015 and also included significant new decisions that will promote the minimisation of emissions from deforestation and on loss and damage.

CONABIO Training to build capacity for a NBIS for Trinidad and Tobago

In pursuit of setting up a National Biodiversity Information System (NBIS), The Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources received technical assistance from the National Commission for Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (CONABIO) from Mexico, a permanent interdepartmental commission created in 1992. Among the main functions of CONABIO is the implementation and operation of the National Information System on Biodiversity (NISB) for Mexico.

Discussions initiated since April, 2012 with the Director of CONABIO at an Inter-governmental Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) meeting in Panama resulted in CONABIO indicating its willingness to share information with Trinidad and Tobago on their experience in setting up the biodiversity information coordination and management system.

As a follow-up to this interaction, a training session for building capacity for a NBIS in support of the Biodiversity Clearing House of Trinidad and Tobago by technical staff from CONABIO took place on 11 - 15th November, 2013 at the Public Education Centre, WASA, St. Joseph, Trinidad and Tobago.  

Key elements of the session included; sensitising relevant stakeholders on the development of the NBIS, identification of data sources in Trinidad and Tobago and training participants in the use and manipulation of the CONABIO’S NBIS (referred to as BIOTICA) for the collating and management of local biodiversity data and information.

Stakeholders involved in training included; representatives from the EPPD; Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Environmental Management Authority (EMA), Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA), National Herbarium,  CABI, University of the West Indies (UWI) Zoology Museum and Life Sciences Department, Ministry of Food  Production’s Research, Horticulture and Fisheries Divisions and the Department of Agriculture, Marine Affairs and the   Environment of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA).