Stakeholder Consultation-National Standard on Biodegradable Materials

Plastic pollution, particularly from single-use plastics, is a burgeoning global issue, with an estimated 8 million tonnes leaking into the ocean annually. Trinidad and Tobago faces similar pollution challenges, including from expanded polystyrene (EPS), commonly called styrofoam. To this end, the Government has taken action to address the issue at the national scale, through most notably a Cabinet decision to ban the importation of finished expanded polystyrene products in the food and beverage sector.

In lieu of this, and as a mechanism to support Government’s policy and ensure verification of the claims of biodegradability and compostability, a request was made to the Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards (TTBS) by the Ministry to develop a national standard for alternative products to EPS. To this end, the TTBS established a multi-stakeholder National Mirror Committee which drafted the “Trinidad and Tobago Compulsory Standard on Biodegradable Materials – Food-Contact Single-Use Products and Packaging – Compulsory Requirements.” As part of its development, the TTBS hosted a public online stakeholder Consultation on Tuesday 1st December 2020 to discuss the standard.

Ms. Keima Gardiner, Waste Management Specialist and member of the National Mirror Committee was invited by the TTBS to present at the Stakeholder Consultation and to participate in a panel discussion. Her presentation which was entitled: ‘Biodegradable Materials in the Food and Beverage Sector- A National Perspective’, focused on the role of the Ministry as it relates to the management of plastics, the national perspective on biodegradable products, and the importance of the National Standard in building and assuring sustainability and ensuring product conformity

Import and Export Licensing System for Hazardous Waste Approved

 

On October 25, 2018, Cabinet agreed to amend the Import and Export Negative Lists to include hazardous waste listed under the Basel Convention, as a mechanism to provide legislative support to the Convention’s implementation.

 The EPPD would have initiated and spearheaded this long and arduous process through the hosting of a series of meetings with key stakeholders and providing technical input to the draft legal notices. After several years this eventually culminated in their finalisation and the publishing of the amendments.

 In effect, these amendments create a regulatory mechanism to monitor and control the movement of hazardous waste entering and exiting the country, by way of documentation and issuance of a licence for the hazardous wastes being transported. Additionally, they aid in restricting the transboundary movement and unwarranted transit of hazardous wastes across the country’s borders. This is a significant regulatory measure, particularly in the absence of comprehensive domestic legislation.

 The Basel Convention was developed in response to the problems caused by the dramatic rise in the cost of disposal of hazardous wastes, which made it more cost effective for developed countries to dispose of their hazardous waste by shipping it to developing countries and to Eastern Europe, leading to impacts to human and environmental health. The treaty was therefore established to regulate the transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and imposes obligations on Parties to ensure that such waste are managed and disposed of in an environmentally sound manner.

Guanapo Landfill Remediation underway

 

The Guanapo Landfill and its environs were a hive of activity in December 2020 as the first phase of implementation of an Environmental Risk Management Plan (ERMP) commenced. From December 4 to December 17, 2020, a cross-functional team of international and local environmental experts conducted an assessment of the water quality at the Guanapo Landfill and two tributaries of the Guanapo River: the El Cedro Stream and Maturita River.

 The objective of this US $650,000.00 ERMP is improving the environmental conditions surrounding the Guanapo Landfill and recommending areas of improving the site model to mitigate against potential health and environmental hazards. Findings from this phase of the study will among other things, identify other possible sources of pollution outside of the Guanapo Landfill, from activities such as farming, washing of clothing, light industry, recreation or wastewater dumping. Collectively, this will inform a Risk Communication Plan, designed to educate the residents and the wider public on potential risks and proper river usage to mitigate against potential threats via a series of Workshops carded for 2021.

 The ERMP forms part of a larger Remediation Plan for the Guanapo Landfill under a regional project entitled “Development and Implementation of a Sustainable Management Mechanism for Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in the Caribbean”. The regional project aims to manage levels of exposure to POPs which are of international concern due to their adverse effects.

The multi-stakeholder team consisted of the Ministry of Planning and Development, which acts as the national Focal Point for the project and Chair of the National Project Working Committee (PWC). The Ministry of Planning and Development was represented by Ms. Keima Gardiner, Chair of the PWC. Additional members included Tauw bv, the Netherlands based environmental consulting and engineering firm contracted for the project; the Trinidad and Tobago Solid Waste Management Company Limited (SWMCOL); and the Basel Convention Regional Centre for Training and Technology Transfer for the Caribbean (BCRC-Caribbean, the project Executing Agency.  

Special Virtual Session for SBSTTA 24 and SBI 3 on Biodiversity, One Health and COVID-19 15th – 16th December 2020

 

The Special Virtual Session was held in an effort to maintain momentum towards the fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP-15), and to facilitate preparations for the twenty-fourth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA 24), and the third meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI 3), which have been postponed due to the on-going global pandemic.  It was also designed to allow Parties and observers to gain additional familiarity with the updated version of the online platform and with the procedures for conducting meetings virtually.

 The Special Session also provided an opportunity for Parties and observers to examine the links between biodiversity and health, including the links between biodiversity loss and the emergence of zoonotic diseases, the One Health approach, and the response to COVID-19.

 One Health is a collaborative, multisectoral, and transdisciplinary approach that recognises that the health of people is closely connected to the health of animals and our shared environment. Its goal is to achieve optimal health outcomes, whilst recognising the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and their shared environment.

 Dr. Lena Dempewolf, Ms. Candace Amoroso, Mr. Julius Smith and Mr. Kevin Bhajan of the Environmental Policy and Planning Division of the Ministry of Planning and Development were the Government’s representatives at the Sessions.

 Whilst the sessions contained no negotiations, decisions or formal recommendations, as they were aimed at providing an opportunity for presentations and information sharing on the theme, it was emphasised that the loss of biodiversity, habitat fragmentation and the loss of natural environments threaten the full range of life-supporting services provided by ecosystems at all levels of biodiversity, including species, genetic and ecosystem diversity. It was noted that the disruption of ecosystem services has direct and indirect implications for public health, which are likely to worsen existing health situations, whether through exposure to environmental hazards, or through the loss of livelihoods.

 The Session stressed that the principles of One Health can improve the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and prevent the spread of newly emerging infectious diseases by embracing the interconnectedness of people (and human development), wildlife and ecosystems to improve global health outcomes. As it provides a valuable framework for the development of beneficial policies and interventions at the link between health and biodiversity.

Climate Dialogues

 

Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) were scheduled to meet in Glasgow, United Kingdom (UK) in November 2020 for the Twenty Sixth Conference of Parties (COP 26). However, due to the global health pandemic as a result of COVID-19, face to face meeting was not possible, and COP 26 was postponed to 2021.

In order to maintain momentum and facilitate dialogue on ongoing and emerging issues, the UNFCCC convened a series of virtual events known as the Climate Dialogues during the period November 23 to December 4, 2020. The events utilised a virtual conference centre set up specifically for this purpose.

The Climate Dialogues were conducted under the guidance of the Chilean Presidency of COP 25 and the incoming United Kingdom (UK) Presidency of COP 26, as well as the Chairs of the Subsidiary Bodies i.e., the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) and the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA). Sixty events on various topics were convened with nearly 8,000 people (Party Delegates, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Media and other Observers) participating virtually. Although, it was agreed that no formal negotiations or decision making would take place, several events were not broadcasted and only included nominated party delegates on outstanding negotiation issues such as common time frames for Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on market and non-market mechanisms.

Mr. Kishan Kumarsingh, Head, Multilateral Environmental Agreements Unit, Ministry of Planning and Development, and Ms. Sindy Singh, Climate Change Specialist, Multilateral Environmental Agreements Unit, Ministry of Planning and Development participated on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

Parties discussed, and in many cases repeated their positions on outstanding negotiation issues. However, there were significant learning opportunities through events facilitating discussion on cross cutting areas such Oceans and Climate Change, land issues and climate change adaptation, and biodiversity and climate change.  

Parties also reflected on the work and achievements of the Technical Examination Process (TEP), both on mitigation and adaptation, and on the Nairobi Work Programme (NWP). It was summarized across multiple fora that these processes engage stakeholders, both Party and non-Party, in a meaningful way to on various topics and often facilitates expert driven discussion and knowledge products.

In conclusion it was noted that despite the challenges brought on/ exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, Trinidad and Tobago should continue to undertake nationally appropriate and ambitious climate action, in light of increasing scientific evidence of climate change and associated impacts.

SPECIAL VIRTUAL SESSIONS, IN PREPARATION FOR SBSTTA-24 AND SBI-3

 

The Special Virtual Sessions held in preparation of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA-24) and its third meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI-3) of the Convention on Biological Diversity were held during the period 14^th – 18^th September, 2020.

 The sessions were organised to maintain the momentum ahead of the United Nations Biodiversity Summit and the fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP-15), and to facilitate preparations for the meetings. There were over 800 participants (representing Parties, other governments, international and non-governmental organisations, indigenous peoples and local communities, academia, and the private sector) who met to chart a path on safeguarding the world’s biodiversity.

 The Special Sessions included the:

 Launch of the fifth edition of the Global Biodiversity Outlook (GBO-5) (Special Session of SBSTTA);

• Testing of a Party-Led Review Process, Through an Open-Ended Forum (Special Session of SBI);
• Strategy for Resource Mobilisation (Special session of SBI); and
• Preparation of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (Special Joint Session of SBSTTA and SBI).

Arising from the Special Virtual Session, are the following conclusions:

 The GBO-5 confirms that governments and Parties must increase national ambitions in support of the new Global Biodiversity Framework, and ensure that all necessary resources are mobilised whilst strengthening the enabling environment.

 

• Member states must reform harmful incentives (including subsidies), and instead promote incentives which encourage biodiversity positive behaviours while discouraging harmful activities.

 

• A “whole of government approach” is required to foster improved coordination within and between agencies with dedicated budgets.  There needs to be the integration of biodiversity into developmental planning, sector plans and physical planning.  Underpinning this would be the recognition of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans (NBSAPs) as legitimate drivers of change (including economic) and cost/budget the projects under the NBSAP.

 

The Government of Trinidad and Tobago was represented by Candace Amoroso, Julius Smith, Kevin Bhajan and Lena Dempewolf.

2nd Extraordinary Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity 16-19 and 25-27 November 2020, Online Meeting

 

The fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), was initially scheduled to be held in October 2020. However, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it has been postponed to later this year. As a result, no adoption of a programme budget for the next biennium (2021-2022) was possible.

 However, the CBD still needed its Parties to meet to pass an interim budget for 2021, for the Secretariat to remain operational; since the current budget for the Secretariat ran out on December 31^st, 2020.

 As the approval of the new programme budget was not possible it was agreed to convene the second extraordinary meeting of the CBD Conference of the Parties (Ex-COP 2), the first extraordinary meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (CP Ex-COP/MOP 1) and the first extraordinary meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization (NP Ex-COP/MOP 1), to consider and approve an interim budget for 2021 based on the work of an informal group on budget. Therefore, the meetings were held from the 16^th – 19^th November 2020, remotely, through a silence/written procedure (i.e.  a form of adopting texts whereby silence implies consent).

 The meeting was opened on Monday 16^th November 2020, with the presentation of the draft budget. Parties were given 72 hours to raise objections in writing. On Thursday November 19^th 2020, a brief suspension of the meeting was announced until November 25^th for further consultations among Parties to resolve a written objection. After another 48-hour “silence procedure” was then observed, and on Friday November 27^th 2020, the successful adoption of the budget and closure of the Ex-COP was announced by written communication.

Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Network (BES-Net): Implementation of Component I in Trinidad and Tobago

 

The Environmental Policy and Planning Division (EPPD), in collaboration with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Trinidad and Tobago, Aruba, Curacao and Sint Maarten is looking forward to executing the pollination-centered project “Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Network (BES-Net): Implementation of Component I in Trinidad and Tobago”. The Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Network (BES-Net) is a capacity sharing “network of networks” that promotes dialogue between science, policy and practice for more effective management of biodiversity and ecosystems as an integral part of long-term human well-being and sustainable development. BES-Net complements and contributes to the capacity building work of the Intergovernmental Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) by aligning its activities with the IPBES global assessment themes and applying the related IPBES guidance documents. 

BES-Net is a consortium of the United Nations (UN) agencies, which includes the UNDP, the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) and the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and is hosted by the UNDP Global Policy Center on Resilient Ecosystems and Desertification (GC-RED). It is funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety (BMU). 

The project will focus on improving the science, policy and practice of pollinators and pollination services in Trinidad and Tobago. As the project is currently in its development phase, stakeholder consultations were conducted virtually between October and December alongside the creation of the workplan. The development of the project is coordinated by Lena Dempewolf with the assistance of consultant Shane Ballah.