Preparation of Trinidad and Tobago's 3rd National Communication, INDC and 1st Biennial Update Report to the UNFCCC

The Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago through the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources has received approval from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) for its project entitled “Preparation of Trinidad and Tobago's Third National Communication and First Biennial Update Report to the UNFCCC.”  The project will be implemented through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

This project seeks to develop the following documentation to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as part of Trinidad and Tobago’s obligations as a signatory to the Convention:

• Third National Communication (TNC) 
•  First Biennial Update Report (FBUR) 
• Trinidad and Tobago’s Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC)

  

Project outcomes that will be achieved include:  

1. Vulnerability studies for coastal resources in Trinidad and Tobago
2. Development of low carbon emission strategies based on the development of Business as Usual and alternative scenarios for Trinidad and Tobago
3. Development of a greenhouse gas inventory database which will facilitate easy submission of data to the government for the preparation of the National GHG Inventory and it is expected to form part of the Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) framework
4. Gap assessment for finance, technology needs and capacity building initiatives as it relates to climate change. This will facilitate the identification of climate change priority areas, education and awareness, research and institutional strengthening.

YWCATT’s Environmental Education Programme

In October, 2014 The Young Women’s Christian Association of Trinidad and Tobago (YWCATT) once again engaged the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) to give support in the implementation of its environmental awareness programme entitled "Environment: Our Space Our Responsibility".

The  Programme consisted of three one hour sessions with the Form 1 students of Bishops Centenary College, Roberts Street,  Port-of-Spain. The programme is intended to expose young women to environmental education. Representatives of the Environmental Policy and  Planning Division (EPPD) of the MEWR shared their expertise and knowledge on the areas of  Biodiversity, Waste Management, Ozone layer Depletion and Climate Change. 

Ms. Amoroso (left) presenting on Biodiversity at the 1st session of the YWCATT environment programme on October 16th, 2014

The first session which focused on Biodiversity Conservation took place on October 16th, 2014 and was facilitated by Ms. Candace Amoroso (Biodiversity Specialist) and Ms. Anastasia Gordon (Environmental Policy Analyst). 

Environmental Policy Analysts, Mr. Javed Lakhan and Ms. Anastasia Gordon presented on Waste Management including Recycling in Trinidad and Tobago at the second session of the Programme which occurred on October 22, 2014. 

The third and last session of the Programme which centred on  Climate Change and Ozone Layer Depletion took place on October 30, 2014 and was facilitated by Ms. Sindy Singh (Research Analyst) and Ms. Neera Singh (National Ozone Unit) and Ms. Krysten Harris (Associate Professional).

 

Ms. Singh facilitating the last session of the YWCATT’s environment programme on Climate Change on October 30, 2014.

Bonn Climate Change Conference

From October 20-24, 2014, the sixth part of the second session of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban  Platform for  Enhanced Action (ADP 2-6) under the United  Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) took place in Bonn, Germany.

Among the country parties to the UNFCCC who participated, Trinidad and Tobago was represented by Ms. Rueanna Haynes, Second Secretary, Permanent Mission of Trinidad and Tobago to the United Nations.  Mr. Kishan Kumarsingh, Head of the Multilateral Environmental Agreements Unit (MEAU), Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources served as the ADP  Co-chair.

Mr. Kishan Kumarsingh , ADP Co-Chair at the ADP 2-6,  October, 2014 

ADP 2-6 focused on the preparation of key documents for the upcoming twentieth Conference of the Parties (COP-20) to the UNFCCC which would take in Lima, Peru in December, 2014. Participants continued to negotiate on elements of the  draft 2015 agreement. In addition,  they worked on a draft decision that captures the type of information countries will need to provide when they communicate their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) and how they would be considered at COP-20.

The outcome of technical meetings resulted in a draft decision on the pre-2020 ambition which was issued for consideration at  Lima.  This draft focused on opportunities for action on non carbon greenhouse gases (GHGs); carbon capture, use and storage, mitigation opportunities through energy efficiency, renewable energy, urban environment and land use improvements in the pre-2020 period.