LECB Technical Working Group Sessions

The Low Emission Capacity Building (LECB) Programme, Trinidad and Tobago convened technical working groups for the development of Low Carbon Action Plans and Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) on November 5 and 6, 2015 at the Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business, Mt. Hope. 

The Consultant for these activities, Dr. Axel Michaelowa chaired these sessions. On November 5^th, the first session comprised presentations on NAMAs and Low Carbon Action Plans; the audience included a broad cross section of government, private and civil society groups.In the afternoon of November 5^th, two technical working groups convened for the transportation sector and the power generation sector.  On November 6, a technical working group for the industry sector was convened. This group was further subdivided into the upstream and downstream groups. 

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

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

All technical working groups held discussions on potential NAMAs in their particular sectors, ranked NAMA options based on feasibility and costs, etc and advised on other related matters such as impediments to implementation or data gaps. 

Carbon Reduction Strategy Stakeholder Consultation

To help develop the Implementation Framework of the Carbon Reduction Strategy (CRS) that was approved in July 2015, the Multilateral Environmental Agreements Unit (MEAU) of the Ministry of Planning and Development organised a stakeholder consultation to engage and receive feedback from stakeholders on the assessments conducted and recommendations proposed. 

This Consultation was held on July 23rd, 2015. In total 52 representatives from stakeholder agencies in the electrical power generation, transport and industrial sectors were present. 

Mr. Kishan Kumarsingh (Head, MEAU) addressing participants at the CRS Consultation, July 23rd, 2015

The Institutional Capacity Assessment which outlined capacity gaps and options for institutional strengthening and the recommendations for an Implementation Framework for the Strategy, which sought to identify activities to achieve the implementation of the Carbon Reduction Strategy were presented and discussed.

Participants during a break out session discussing and identifying activities to implement the CRS.

There was consensus amongst the stakeholders for a more active role by the public and private sector and the need for public awareness in low carbon development and reducing our contribution to greenhouse gas emissions as part of country dialogue and development. 

              

                              

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.