Global Workshop on Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): Delivering Climate Action and Sustainable Development

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Low Emission Capacity Building (LECB) Programme hosted the Global Workshop on Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): Delivering Climate Action and Sustainable Development which was held in Brussels, Belgium during the period 13-14 June, 2016. 

Trinidad and Tobago was represented at the Global Workshop  by Mrs. Beverly Khan, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Planning and Development and Mr. Javed Lakhan, Environmental Policy Analyst, Environmental Policy and Planning Division of the Ministry of Planning and Development.

DPS Khan at the head table (second from the left) participating as a panelist on one of the discussions at the Workshop

The two (2) day Workshop focused on collaborating with participants to: 

• formulate a framework for comprehensive NDC implementation;
• sharing of experiences between countries with  respect to planning and implementing          activities to achieve goals set out under NDCs; 
• discussing technical and institutional issues related to implementation and how to address them and; 
• elaborate on the ways NDCs could not only deliver on countries’ commitments to the Paris      Agreement but also be a driving factor toward meeting the global Sustainable Development       Goals (SDGs).

The meeting proved very fruitful, facilitated the conceptualisation of some concrete first steps to drive achievement of NDC goals in Trinidad and Tobago. Some of the first steps identified included increasing public awareness and seeking to create high level political champions within various ministries to ensure that climate resilience and low greenhouse gas emission components are considered at all levels of country planning.

LECB - Second Mission of the Project Consultant

Work continued on the Low Emission Capacity Building (LECB) Programme, Trinidad and Tobago as Dr. Axel Michaelowa (Consultant, LECB) conducted his second mission during the  period January 11 - 21, 2016.

"The LECB Programme partners with governments to implement national projects that support national initiatives that address climate change and sustainable mitigation actions in both the public and industrial sectors as part of a joint collaboration between the European Union and the United Nations Development Programme."

His mission comprised of the following activities: 

• Bilateral meetings with the Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business Renewable Energy Project Incubator and Trinity Power.
• A Baseline and Co-benefits Workshop was held at the Rudranath Capildeo Learning Resource Centre (January 15, 2016).
• A consultation was held at the Point Lisas Industrial Port Development Company (PLIPDECO)
  to discuss potential mitigation options on the estate. The Industry Technical Working Groups met on that afternoon to conduct a SWOT Analysis and Co-Benefits Assessment for Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMA) options for that sector (January 15, 2016).
• Technical Working groups for Power and Transport met at the Environmental Policy and Planning Division (EPPD) offices of the Ministry of Planning and Development to conduct SWOT analyses and co-benefits assessments for NAMA options in those sectors (January 18-19, 2016).  

 

Dr. Michaelowa (3rd from the right) with staff of the EPPD and  LECB Project Team at PLIPDECO.

Dr. Michaelowa facilitating discussions at the consultation in PLIPDECO  on January 15th, 2016.

MGM Innova, the firm which is delivering technical assistance for the development of guidelines for Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) also conducted a mission to Trinidad during the period February 15^th - 17^th and met with various stakeholders bilaterally in order to collect data on various systems which may exist or could be developed as it relates to MRV.

LECB Technical Group Sessions

The Multilateral Environmental Agreements Unit of the Ministry of Planning and Development hosted technical workshops  for the development of Low Carbon Action Plans and Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) under the Low Emission Capacity Building (LECB) Programme, Trinidad and Tobago.

These working groups took place on November 5th and 6th, 2015 at the Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business, Mount Hope. The Consultant for these activities, Dr. Axel Michaelowa chaired these sessions.

On November 5th, the first session comprised presentations on NAMAs and Low Carbon Action Plans. The audience included a broad cross section of representatives from government, the private sector and civil society groups. In the afternoon of November 5th, two (2) technical working groups convened for the transportation sector and power generation sector.

A technical working group for the industry sector was held on November 6th. This group was further subdivided into the upstream and downstream groups. All technical working groups held discussions on potential NAMAs in their particular sectors, then ranked NAMA options based on feasibility and costs, etc. as well as advised on other related matters such as impediments to implementation or data gaps. 

Mr. Hans Schultz, Project Manger, introduces the LECB project  to the participants.

 

Cross-section of participants at the LECB Technical Working Group Sessions.

LECB Project Launch and Inception Workshop

On February 26th, 2015 the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) joined with key stakeholders to launch the “Low Emissions Capacity Building Programme (LECB) Project.” The event was hosted at the Rudranath Capildeo Learning Resource Centre, Couva by the Multilateral Environment Agreements Unit (MEAU) of the MEWR, the designated coordinating entity to implement the National Climate Change Policy.

The LECB project is a global programme of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and is being implemented through the UNDP office in Trinidad and Tobago. Trinidad and Tobago is the only participating country in the Caribbean. The Project seeks to:

• support and complement the activities and outputs of ongoing projects being executed to implement the National Climate Change Policy including the Carbon Reduction Strategy
• support and develop a framework for strategy implementation to identify and select the most feasible alternatives and options for low carbon development in the sectors assessed
• support key public and private stakeholders for its implementation, particularly in Greenhouse Gas (GHG) inventorying, reporting and verification through relevant capacity building activities

In her remarks, Ms. Vidiah Ramkhelawan, Permanent Secretary of the Environment and Water Resources highlighted the Ministry's efforts in advancing the national climate change agenda through various initiatives and studies and the LECB project is one such initiative.

Ms. Vidiah Ramkhelewan  (Permanent Secretary, MEWR) giving her remarks at the start of the LECB Project launch

During the launch, Technical Specialist, LECB Programme, Environment and Energy Group Bureau for Development Policy of UNDP in New York, Mr. James Vener provided an overview of the global programme and the expected benefits of the programme on the ground including the promotion of strategic planning, mainstreaming of climate change into national/sectoral development planning, improved data management, use of public finance to attract private investments, among others.

Mr. Kishan Kumarsingh, Head of the MEAU emphasised the improtance and timeliness of the project as it will culminate in the development of Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs), provide input into the formulation of Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (iNDCs) as well as develop capacity to conduct Biennial Update Reports (BURs) of national GHG emissions. These outputs are also part of Trinidad and Tobago's obligations as a signatory to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

L-R: , Mr. Hans Eric Schulz (LECB Project Manager), Mr. Kishan Kumarsingh (Head of MEAU, MEWR), Ms. Rosemary Lall (UNDP, Trinidad and Tobago), Mr. James Vener (LECB Programme, UNDP) and Ms.Tanya Staskiewicz  (Technical Project Assistant, LECB Project)

The formal launch was proceeded by an Inception Workshop which provided participants from the private sector, business support organisations, government agencies, regional organisation and academia and key stakeholders with the opportunity to ask questions and offer recommendations to inform policy making on climate change in Trinidad and Tobago.

 

Cross-Section of participants at the LECB Project Launch and Inception Workshop

Presentations and the Report from the LECB Launch and Inception Workshop can be accessed below:

• Climate Change Implementation in Trinidad and Tobago
• Carbon Reduction Strategy for Trinidad and Tobago
• LECB Programme in Trinidad and Tobago
• Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) and Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (iNDCs) 
• Inception Workshop Report