United Nation’s Climate Change Conference

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) convened a climate change conference from September 1^st - 9^th, 2018 in Bangkok, Thailand to further negotiations under its constituted bodies, the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI), the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technical Advice (SBSTA), and the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement (APA). Preparatory meetings for the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) and the Group of 77 and China (G77 and China) met on August 30^th - 31^st, 2018 consecutively.

The three (3) subsidiary bodies which previously convened in Bonn in May, 2018 decided that an additional session was necessary to ensure the timely conclusion of negotiations towards achieving the Paris Agreement Work Programme (PAWP). The negotiations at this session were largely focused on advancing work on the PAWP, a set of decisions that will operationalise the Paris Agreement and facilitate its implementation. The Paris Agreement entered into force on November 4^th, 2016. The deadline set for the completion of negotiations for the PAWP is the Twenty Fourth Conference of Parties (COP 24) to be convened in Katowice, Poland in December 2018. 

The key focus of these meetings was to advance discussions on several items under the subsidiary bodies as well as all issues under the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement. These include: mitigation, adaptation, finance, transparency, the global stock take, response measures, market and non-market approaches, compliance with, and implementation of the Paris Agreement; and possible additional PAWP items, including matters related to the Adaptation Fund, loss and damage and preparation for the convening of the Twenty Fourth Conference of Parties (COP 24) of the UNFCCC and its various related meetings. At the end of the session, a compilation of documents was published known as the “Bangkok Outcome” which reflects the status of negotiations on the PAWP at the Bangkok session.

Approximately 1,600 participants including nearly 1,200 government delegates and 400 representatives from United Nations (UN) bodies and agencies, intergovernmental organisations, civil society organisations and media representatives attended these meetings. Trinidad and Tobago was represented at these meetings by Mr. Kishan Kumarsingh, Head, Multilateral Environmental Agreements Unit (MEAU), Ministry of Planning and Development (MPD) and Ms. Sindy Singh, Climate Change Specialist, MEAU, MPD.

T&T Representative - Ms. Sindy Singh

Ms. Sindy Singh participates at the G77 and China Huddle on
Climate Change Adaptation Communications

Global Environment Facility (GEF 7) Project Development for Chemicals and Waste Management in the Caribbean Region

Cognisant of the challenges faced with environmentally sound waste management in the Caribbean region, and as a mechanism to augment and streamline the ongoing activities in this area, the Basel Convention Regional Centre for the Caribbean (BCRC-Caribbean), in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) initiated the preliminary phases of development of a project under the Global Environment Facility seventh allocation (GEF 7), for Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

In this regard, a meeting to develop project ideas for the Caribbean for onward submission to the GEF was held on July 17^th -18^th, 2018 at the Hyatt Hotel, Port of Spain.  An overview was provided on the GEF 7 replenishment and on the proposed GEF ISLANDs (Implementing Sustainable, Low and Non-chemicals Development in Small Island Developing States) Programme. The latter is being developed in the Caribbean and Pacific regions through the GEF-7 Chemical and Waste focal area, and aims to prevent the build-up of materials and chemicals in the environment that contain persistent organic pollutants (POPs), mercury and other harmful chemicals in SIDS, and to manage and dispose of existing harmful chemicals and materials in SIDS.

On the first day, presentations were delivered by the representatives from a range of regional entities including the Caribbean Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ), the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and the UN Environment Caribbean Sub-Regional Office. The country representatives from the various delegations around the region also provided a synopsis of the chemicals and waste profiles in their respective territories, inclusive of relevant legislation, policies and projects, as well as the priority areas on a national level. Ms. Keima Gardiner, Waste Management Specialist, presented on Trinidad and Tobago’s priorities. 

The second day of meetings commenced with a panel discussion consisting of technicians engaged in chemicals and waste management throughout the region. This was followed by break-out group discussions amongst the countries on the possible interventions to achieve the programme’s goals, based on commonalities of national priorities and waste streams, targets with respect to modernisation and identification and filling of existing gaps. The outcomes of this meeting were used as the basis for development of the Project Framework Document for the Caribbean region for the GEF ISLANDS Programme.

Participants at the Meeting

Enforcement Officers Workshop (2018)

Over the period June - August 2018, three one-day workshops were undertaken as a joint initiative of the Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago project and the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) which were geared towards building knowledge of the legal framework for environmental management among senior enforcement officers.  The workshops were attended by 114 persons, including representatives of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard, Game Wardens of the Wildlife Division, Forestry Officers, Environmental Police Unit, Police of Regional Corporations and the Customs and Excise Division (Tobago).

Key presentations were delivered on the Environmental Management Act 2000 Chapter 35:05 and rules, the Conservation of Wildlife Act Chapter 67:01, the Forest Act Chapter 66:01, the State Lands Act Chapter 57:01 an the Town and Country Planning Act Chapter 35:01.  A report on the workshops is provided at this link.

December issue of ProtectEd is here

The latest issue of the Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago project newsletter, ProtectEd is here!  This latest issue reports on project activities that took place over the last six-month period.  Enjoy catching up with news on the development of protected area management plans, the project's observance of World Food Day 2018 in October, a wide range of communication activities undertaken in Tobago and much, much more.  Read the latest issue of ProtectEd at this link.

Primary Teachers Workshop "localises" Science Curriculum

A workshop which targeted key topics on the Primary School Science Curriculum was offered to teachers in Tobago in late October.  The workshop was built around a toolkit of activities which introduced the science topics using the vehicle of storytelling.  

The activities were well-received by thirty-one teachers who attended the workshop and set the pace for future networking among the teachers and local resource personnel who are involved in protected area management on the island.  Learn more about the workshop at this link.

"My Caroni" pilot series comes to a close

The third and final session of the "My Caroni" research/information sharing series came to a close on Friday 26th October 2018.  The series, which was conceptualised to update managers and key stakeholders on pertinent and current issues relevant to management was held on a monthly basis, from August 2018.  Read about this final session, which covered two surveys conducted in selected communities which border the Caroni Swamp at this link.

International Coastal Clean-Up Day 2018

On September 15^th, 2018, the Ministry of Planning and Development took part in the International Coastal Clean-up (ICC) at the Foreshore, in collaboration with the Institute of Marine Affairs. The ICC has as a primary objective, removal of trash and marine debris from beaches and waterways in an effort to help restore the integrity of the marine environment.

Approximately 200 volunteers gave generously of their time during a four (4) hour period to participate in this global data collection exercise. As a result of their efforts, 4, 289.2 lbs of garbage and marine debris were removed from the coastline, and the beach reverted to its untarnished natural appearance. The most popular items found were plastic bottles (680), while an alarming 100 tyres were removed by a very able-bodied and zealous team.  The list of most unusual items was quite extensive this year and included a television casing, floppy disc, carpet, suitcase, fan, couch cushion, video game, car headlight and radio.

Special thanks to all volunteers who through their hard-work bore testament to the Ministry’s tagline ‘Environmental Pride is National Pride’.

 Tyres litter the Foreshore

 A volunteer at ICC, 2018

 Volunteers are provided with instructions for data collection

 EPPD Team at ICC 2018

"My Caroni" session focuses on the Scarlet Ibis and Enforcement matters

The second session in the "My Caroni" information/research sharing series took place on Friday 28th September 2018. An initiative of the Caroni Swamp Pilot Protected Area Subcommittee (Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago project), these sessions assist managers in understanding the complexity of issues which face the protected area, and offer opportunities to discuss, brainstorm ideas and network to find practical solutions and/or approaches to improved management.  

At the second session which was hosted at the Head Office of the Environmental Management Authority, attendees gained insight on the process followed for designation of the most recent Environmentally Sensitive Species, the Scarlet Ibis.  

Additionally, the current challenges facing managers for enforcement within the Caroni Swamp (and other protected areas) and the novel ways in which some of these are being addressed, were shared.  

Learn more about the information shared and the discussions which ensued at this link.  The next session of the series will be held in late October.

"My Caroni" Research/Information Sharing Series Begins

"My Caroni" is the theme of a research/information sharing series which was conceptualised by the Caroni Swamp Pilot Protected Area Subcommittee of the "Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago" project. 

The series is intended to provide updates to managers and other stakeholders on the assets, challenges and issues facing the ecosystem of the Caroni Swamp, to improve its management. 

The first session of the series got underway on Friday 25th August 2018 at the Caroni Swamp Visitor Centre.  Read more about the session at this link.

Second Marine Extractive Users Workshop takes place

Following positive feedback from attendees at the first marine extractive users workshop in March, the "Improving Forest and Protected Areas Management in Trinidad and Tobago" project hosted a second workshop for fisherfolk from the eastern end of Tobago.  Read about the activity at this link.

Regional Meeting Series for the Project “Development and Implementation of a Sustainable Management Mechanism for POPs in the Caribbean”

As part of project execution for the regional Global Environment Facility (GEF) funded project, ‘Development and Implementation of a Sustainable Management Mechanism for Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in the Caribbean’ (GEF #5558), the Basel Convention Regional Centre for Training and Technology Transfer for the Caribbean Region (BCRC-Caribbean) hosted a Regional Meeting Series for the project at the Department of Environment’s Conference Room, St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda. The Regional Meeting Series comprised the following meetings:

· Train-the-Trainer Workshop - Inventory and Disposal - May 28, 2018;

· Third Annual Project Steering Committee Meeting - May 29, 2018;

· National Implementation Plan (NIP) Validation Workshop -May 30,2018; and

· Regional Legal Stakeholders Workshop: Towards a Model Legal Framework for Chemicals Management - May 31, 2018

In attendance (physically or virtually) at the Meetings were the Chairpersons of the Project Working Committees (PWCs), National Project Coordinators (NPCs), or a designated country representative, as well as legal officers, solid waste management technicians, and representatives of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the BCRC-Caribbean.

The Train-the-Trainer Workshop was geared towards waste management technicians around the region, and there was national representation from the Trinidad and Tobago Solid Waste Management Authority (SWMCOL) and the Environmental Management Authority (EMA). The three (3) other meetings were attended by the EMA and the Ministry of Planning and Development’s Waste Management Specialist, Ms. Keima Gardiner, who also serves as the Chair of the PWC for Trinidad and Tobago.

The Third Annual Project Steering Committee Meeting had as an objective, the review of the project status for Years 1 and 2, as well as the upcoming work programmes for Year 3. The NIP Validation Workshop was designed to validate and endorse the draft final NIPs, as well as to outline the strategies for the endorsement of the NIPs at the national levels. The First Regional Legal Stakeholders Workshop aimed to present the overall findings and recommendations for a Draft Regional Chemicals Regulatory Framework for the participating countries. Collectively, these meetings sought to help fulfill the objectives of the project which is to reduce and/or eliminate the threat of POPs within the context and realities of the eight (8) Caribbean countries, including Trinidad and Tobago.

Project Entitled – “Capacity Development for improved management of Multilateral Environmental Agreements for Global Environmental Benefits.”

Project Overview:

This project is being funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), coordinated by the United Nations Development Programme office of Trinidad and Tobago (UNDP) with the Ministry of Planning and Development as the executing agency.

The goal of this project is to strengthen the ability of the Government of the Republic Trinidad and Tobago (GoRTT) to create, leverage and maintain synergies for the national implementation of Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) and strengthen integrated approaches to environmental management, including meeting MEAs guidance and national reporting requirements.

Through a learning-by-doing process, this project will implement capacity development activities in Trinidad and Tobago to improve the synergistic implementation of MEAs and, by extension, contribute to global environmental benefits.

The GEF:

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) was established on the eve of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit to help tackle our planet’s most pressing environmental problems. The GEF unites 183 countries in partnership with international institutions, civil society organisations (CSOs), and the private sector to address global environmental issues while supporting national sustainable development initiatives. Since 1992, the GEF has provided over $17 billion in grants and mobilised an additional $88 billion in financing for more than 4000 projects in 170 countries. Through its Small Grants Programme (SGP), the GEF has invested $450 million and leveraged similar levels of co-financing supporting over 14,500 community-based projects in over 125 countries.

As an independently operating financial organisation, the GEF provides grants for projects related to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, the ozone layer, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), mercury, sustainable forest management, food security, sustainable cities.

This project falls under the “Cross Cutting Capacity Development Strategy” of the GEF, which has the objective of addressing important capacity needs that will enhance a country’s ability to meet its obligations under the Conventions by creating synergies, while at the same time catalysing the mainstreaming of multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) into national policy, management or financial and legislative frameworks.

Multilateral Environmental Agreements of which Trinidad and Tobago are signatory include, inter alia:

Ø  Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

Ø  United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

Ø  United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and Drought (UNCCD)

Ø  Montreal Protocol

Ø  Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal

Ø  Rotterdam Convention

Ø  Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants

Ø  Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

Ø  Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW)

Ø  Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer

Ø  Ramsar Convention (The Convention on Wetlands)

Ø  World Heritage Convention

Ø  United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)

Ø  Convention on Conservation & Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks on the High Seas

Ø  International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL)

Project Rationale:

The analysis conducted for the formulation of this project indicates that there is a clear set of capacity barriers hampering the implementation of MEAs in Trinidad and Tobago, namely:

• Need for the capacity of individuals involved in implementing MEAs to increase their skills and knowledge;
• Need for the organisations involved in implementing MEAs to improve their structures, coordination and collaboration mechanisms and procedures;
• Need for the enabling environment for implementing MEAs to be improved via development of effective supporting policy, legal, institutional and financial frameworks.

Project Objective:

u  The project’s objective is to implement capacity development activities in Trinidad and Tobago to improve the synergistic implementation of MEAs and contribute to increase national and global environmental benefits.

u  The project will address key capacity development needs related to the implementation of MEAs, seeking to strengthen synergies to achieve maximum profitability, by re-structuring organisational relationships, strengthening partnerships, relationships and commitments, and improved coordination and collaboration.

u  The project will also strengthen the capacity of the Green Fund Executing Unit (GFEU) and of the CSOs to improve the effectiveness of this unique national environmental funding mechanism.

Project Outcomes:

1. The institutional framework of the country is strengthened and more coordinated, and more able to address global environmental concerns. Under the first outcome, the project will focus on assessing and structuring an improved consultative and decision-making process that effectively integrates global environmental objectives into the existing environmental management framework in Trinidad and Tobago. The project will support the development of capacities of decision-makers to interpret and agree on how best to govern the environment in Trinidad and Tobago that not only meets national priorities, but also global environmental obligations. This outcome will focus on the processes to facilitate these decisions and strengthen the instruments available to decision-makers and policy-makers in order to provide an adequate enabling environment for improving the implementation of MEAs in Trinidad and Tobago. Activities supported by the project under this outcome will also include strengthening the process to engage, coordinate and collaborate with non-governmental stakeholders, such as NGOs, CSOs, private sector and academia.
2. The Green Fund is effective as a funding mechanism to support the implementation of MEAs in Trinidad and Tobago. Under this second outcome, project resources will be used to support activities to better align projects funded by the GFTT with the implementation of MEAs obligations in Trinidad and Tobago; hence contributing to national environmental benefits and by extension to global environmental benefits. The project will seek to increase the effectiveness of this unique national environmental funding mechanism by unleashing its funding potential. Activities supported by the project will strengthen the technical capacity of the Green Fund Executing Unit (GFEU) and the capacity of CSOs to access project funding from the GFTT.

Major Project Outputs:

Participants at the Capacity Building Workshop

EPPD staff at the Workshop

Roaming Art Exhibition visits Trincity Mall

Following the launch of the roaming environmental art exhibit “Treasures Among Us” on June 11^th, and its first week of showing at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Port of Spain, it was time to hit the road and head east.  The exhibit journeyed to the central atrium of the popular Trincity Mall.  

The exhibit is an initiative of the "Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago" project and is part of the Environment Month celebrations of the Ministry of Planning and Development "Environmental Pride is National Pride" which promotes our local biodiversity.

Read more about the Mall experience at this link.

Brickfield Mangrove Rehab Exercise: 23rd and 24th June, 2018

In commemoration of the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, June 17^th, the Ministry of Planning and Development with the assistance of the Institute of Marine Affairs undertook a replanting exercise at the Brickfield location. The aim was to plant approximately 1,000 mangrove seedlings at the mudflats located at Brickfield in Central Trinidad.

This area for replanting was selected in order to try to mitigate the erosion of an artificial headland created from dredged spoils from being eroded.

The initiative through the Ministry of Planning and Development took place during the following phases:

•             Saturday June 23, 2018 at 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m., along the road to the Caroni Swamp Visitor Centre - collection of 1,000 mangroves seedlings

 •            Sunday June 24, 2018 at 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. at the Brickfield mudflats: the replanting of the collected mangrove seedlings

Under this initiative over 80 volunteers were mobilized to re-plant over 1150 mangrove (red, white and black) seedlings at a degraded mangrove area in Trinidad and Tobago.

The Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA) surveyed the coastline from Carli Bay to Caroni Swamp to select an area for replanting and has recommend the Brickfield mudflats for the replanting activity.  Brickfield was dredged since the area had silted up and the spoilt was used to create headland to protect the bay.  The headland is eroding away. The IMA suggested that mangroves be replanted on the headland to stabilise and arrest the erosion.  

See pictures from the two days below:

See and share the story via the link below:

https://spark.adobe.com/video/COFyOx9GzrhiS

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY (WED) TALKS

The Ministry of Planning and Development will be commemorating World Environment Day, not only on the internationally recognised day, June 5, but for the entire month of June as “World Environment Month”. This initiative is being conducted in collaboration with the Ministry’s environmentally oriented agencies, who will be partnering to showcase this year’s theme, “Beat Plastic Pollution,” through a range of activities during the month of June.

To this end, the Environmental Policy and Planning Division will be hosting World Environment Day Talks (WED Talks) and a Fair at the National Library and Information System (NALIS) Audio Visual Room on June 26, 2018 from 10am to 2pm. 

2018 WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY (WED) TALKS SPEAKERS

SPEAKER	ORGANISATION	Thematic Area
10 am – 11am
Mr. Hasmath Ali	Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Inspectorate	Pesticides and Chemical Pollution
Ms. Laurayne Lucky	Caribbean Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA) T&T National Section	Water Resources
Mr. Robert Nunez	Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry Association	Air Conditioning and Refrigeration /Ozone
11am -12 noon
Ms. Marissa Mohammed and Mr. Kevin Thomas	CNIRD & Marine Environment Education Programme for Trinidad and Tobago (MEEPTT)	Marine Environment
Dr. Judith Gobin	University of the West Indies	Marine Environment
Dr. Floyd Homer	Coordinator – EU Environment Programme	Biodiversity
12 noon – 1 pm
Ms. Sharda Mahabir	Adopt A River Programme	River Ecosystems
Ms. Rianna Gonzales	Caribbean Youth Environmental Network Water Resources Agency	Climate Change and Water Resources
Dr. Kegan Farrick	University of the West Indies	Climate Change and Land Degradation
1 pm – 2 pm
Ms. Sian Cuffy-Young	Siel Environmental Company Managing Director	Environmental Education and Behavioural Change
Mr. Kishan Kumarsingh	EPPD	Climate Change