Update on the "Advancing the Nagoya Protocol in Countries of the Caribbean Region" Project

Since the first National Workshop on Advancing the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits arising from their Utilization (ABS), at the Hilton, Port of Spain in April, 2016, we have kicked the Regional UNEP-GEF project into high gear. 

Some of the highlights of 2017 include:

1.      Attendance at two (2) Regional Meetings to advance the Protocol:

 - Inception Workshop on Advancing the Nagoya Protocol in Countries of the Caribbean Region and Regional Workshop on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABSCH) Clearing House, July 2016

                      -  Regional Workshop on the ABSCH, and Contract Template Development, November 2017

2.      Participation in a National Inventory of Genetic Material: Perspectives and Prospects

3.    Assessment of current national legislation to determine if a separate ABS legislation is needed, or if the ABS protocol can be enacted with current legislation.

4.    A national workshop on ABS legislation to generate recommendations on the way forward, September 2017

5.     A review of current administration systems for accessing genetic resources in Trinidad and Tobago

6.      Participation in a regional exercise to draft Cabinet Notes for accession to the Protocol

In 2018, the Project aims to:

1.     Complete the national genetic inventory report

2.     Host a national workshop with Indigenous Local Communities on awareness raising of the Protocol

3.  Engage in public awareness elements e.g. signage, newspaper articles, blog, roving caravan, television spots, regional ABS webpage

Image showing Attendees at the Workshop on “Advancing the Nagoya Protocol in Countries of the Caribbean Region-Legal Perspectives”, September 11^th, 2017; EPPD, MPD.

Expansion of the Green Government Policy in the MPD

The Green Government Policy was approved by Cabinet in 2011 and seeks to minimize the adverse effects of Government’s operations on the environment by promoting efficient resource use, pollution prevention and facilitating cost effectiveness of Government operations by reducing energy use, waste and consumables. 

Since its re-launch in 2014 by the EPPD Green Committee, implementation has been steadily progressing on Level 26 of Tower D, International Waterfront Complex (IWC), Port of Spain (POS). Based on the success achieved and knowledge acquired thus far, the Ministerial re-alignment presented itself as an opportune time to expand implementation of the Policy to the other arms of the Ministry of Planning and Development. 

This has been occurring through a phased approach: 

 

Phase I was initiated following a meeting convened by the EPPD on January 28th, 2016 with representatives from the European Development Fund (EDF), Town and Country Planning Division (TCPD), the Green Fund Executing Unit, the Communications Unit and the Human Resources Department. These representatives were apprised of the Green Government Policy, the progress and challenges encountered during its implementation by the EPPD, and the recommended next steps to enable seamless Policy operationalization at their respective locations.  

Phase II of the expansion took place subsequent to this meeting. It involved presentations led by Ms. Keima Gardiner, Environmental Engineering Specialist (Environmental Policy and Planning Division) delivered at the individual departments upon the request of their representative. These presentations took place on:

• February 4th, 2016 - Human Resources, Henry Street, POS
• February 18th, 2016 - Town and Country Planning (TCPD, Level 17), EWFC
• February 19th, 2018 - EDF, Technical Corporations Unit, IT, Registry and the Advisory Town Planning Panel
• February 24th, 2016 - TCPD on  Level 13,Ground Floor and the Basement, and the Communications and Library Unit at the EWFC
• March 10th, 2016 -  Economic Development Advisory Board (EDAB) in Nicholas Towers
• March 11th, 2016 -  Ministerial Floor and General Administration situated on Level 14, EWFC

 

 Snapshots

EDF , TCU Green Government Policy briefing session on February 19th, 2016.

TCPD , Communications and Library, Level 13  Green Government Policy briefing session on February 24th, 2016.

EDAB  Green  Government Policy briefing session on March 10th, 2016.

EWRC and TCPD (Level 17), TCU Green  Government Policy briefing session on February 18th, 2016.

HR , Henry Street Green Government Policy briefing session on February 4th, 2016.

Minister and Operations, Level 14 Green Government Policy briefing session on March 11th, 2016.

Public Awareness Campaign for the NIP begins!

In fulfillment of the obligations under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), in 2013 the Environmental Policy and Planning Division (EPPD), through funding from the United Nations Development Programme, completed and submitted Trinidad and Tobago’s National Implementation Plan (NIP). The NIP is a five (5) year road map that identifies mechanisms to measure, manage, reduce or eliminate the threat of POPs in the country.

A critical component of the NIP is the roll out of a public awareness campaign, with the aim of sensitizing the nation on the adverse effects of POPs, the mechanisms to reduce their exposure to such toxins, and to provide information on the recommended activities outlined in NIP.  As such, a limited but comprehensive public awareness campaign has been developed to target policy makers, the industrial sector and the general public. 

The main elements of the public awareness package include:

• Distribution of the NIP (hard copy and electronically).
• Dissemination of informational material including brochures, flip cards,and posters.
• Publication of articles on POPs in industry magazines and newsletters such as the Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce's (TTCIC) "Contact" Magazine and the Energy Chamber's "Energy Now" Newsletter.
• Publicizing of a 45 second advertisment on POPs on local TV stations and MovieTowne, Port of Spain and Caribbean Cinemas Southpark and on various social media platforms.
• Showcasing of information on POPs and the NIP on the EPPD's Blogspot: http://eppd-tt.blogspot.com/ 

Promotional material will be distributed to key actors in the waste and chemicals field, schools across the nation as part of an education campaign and the general public during the EPPD's public awareness. 

Be on the look out for information like the promotional material below, on 'what are' and 'how to protect yourself and the environment against' POPs!

Blog Website Training

On Thursday 18th February, 2016 the Environmental Policy and Planning Division held two (2) back to back training sessions (9:30 - 10:30am and 10:30 - 11:30am respectively) with divisions of the Ministry of Planning and Development on setting up blogs.

Sharing the experience of the EPPD using blogs to maintain a strong presence on the internet and keep its stakeholders informed on their actions with regards to environmental management and policy, participants gained insight into the benefits of utilising the Web 2.0 tool to effectively communicate and share information with their stakeholders on the activities of their departments/units.

Additionally, attendees were also given a live and interactive tutorial on the features of and the creation a blog using the Google Blogger Platform. Participants included representatives from the Communications Unit, Town and Country Planning, Economic Development Advisory Board, European Development Fund Unit and the Technical Cooperation Unit of the Ministry. 

Presentation on the EPPD's blogs (click here for presentation)

A few of the participants of the first training session including Ms. Anastasia Gordon (first from the left) and Dr. David Persaud (first from the right) from the EPPD who facilitated the training sessions.

Some participants of the second session of the blog website training session.

Research Preparations for Secondary School Research

The Environmental Policy and Planning Division (EPPD) of the Ministry of Planning and Development were invited by the Environmental Sustainable School Programme (ESSP) Officer of Bishop Anstey High School East and Trinity College East to assist in the preparation of an in-house environmental debate which would be held in October, 2015.

On September 29th 2015, Ms. Candace Amoroso, Biodiversity Specialist and Ms. Anastasia Gordon, Environmental Policy Analyst of the EPPD gave a brief presentation on the benefits of biodiversity and the impacts of its loss. The students and the Ministry officials engaged in a rousing discussion on the Motion: Human Population is the single greatest threat to Biodiversity.

From L-R: Ms. Amoroso and Ms. Gordon showing students information in the National Wildlife Policy which could be used for their upcoming debate.

The students displayed a keen interest and knowledge on their selected topic. The schools were also presented with literature from the EPPD on our national biodiversity related policies for their shared library, along with posters to be displayed on the walls of their science laboratories. 

Ms. Sindy Singh and Ms. Candace Leung Woo-Gabriel, Research Analyst of the Multilateral Environmental Agreements Unit (MEAU), EPPD also visited the school for a presentation and discussion on Climate Change on September 30th, 2015. This fulfilled the request to assist the students in preparation for another motion of their upcoming debate. The motion asked for arguments for or against the question of whether (anthropogenic) climate change is a myth or scientific reality. The students were also given material produced by the MEAU and the National Climate Change Policy to add to their library.

 

ICC 2015!

Annually, the 3rd Saturday in September, volunteers around the world remove millions of pounds of discarded material and debris from oceans and waterways as part of the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC). Trinidad is no exception as on September 19th, 2015 volunteers rendered their time and efforts for ICC, 2015.

 

The Ministry of Planning and Development is the major sponsor of the local chapter of the ICC. Thus, the Environmental Policy and Planning Division (EPPD) of the Ministry continued its involvement with the cleanup and data collection exercise hosted by the Ocean Conservancy by assisting in the cleanup of the Chagville Beach in Chaguaramas. Chagville Beach was one of the 17 beaches that was cleaned across the country in this exercise. 

 

Staff of the EPPD joined Plastikeep and other volunteers and concerned citizens of Trinidad and Tobago in ICC 2015 cleanup efforts. Within their groups of 4, participants enthusiastically collected plastic and glass bottles, food wrappers, bottle caps, tyres, dead animal carcasses and other debris both natural and anthropogenic. By the end of the cleanup exercise several bags of debris were collected.

 

This initiative provides substantive evidence of the need for us to heighten our environmental awareness and alter our behaviour, in the hope that in the future less debris will be collected from our coastal sites.

 

Snapshots of from ICC 2015