International Coastal Clean-up 2019

Volunteers and EPPD staff proudly posed for a photo at the end of a successful ICC 2019 

International Coastal Clean-up (ICC) 2019

Another year, another successful International Coastal Clean-up (ICC)!

From L-R, His Excellency Arend Biesebroek, (Ambassador to the EU Delegation T&T), Ms. Keima Gardiner (Waste Management Specialist) and Mr. Fazeer Mohammed on the TV6 Morning Edition programme. 

In preparation for the ICC, the Ministry of Planning and Development in partnership with the Delegation of the European Union to Trinidad and Tobago participated in the Morning Edition television programme, to raise awareness on the thirty-third (33^rd) anniversary of this worldwide data collection initiative.

Volunteers remove waste at the Foreshore

Trinidad and Tobago has been an active participant in this venture for the past seventeen (17) years, and on Saturday 21st September, 2019 the combined Ministry and EU team took part in this year's ICC at the Foreshore, off the Audrey Jeffers Highway, Port of Spain, which was one (1) of thirty (30) sites cleaned in Trinidad and Tobago.

The ICC is the largest, annual global volunteer initiative aimed at removing discarded material and debris from waterways and the marine environment, in an effort to restore its integrity. A whopping 220 volunteers came out to the Foreshore to bear the initial sweltering heat, to participate in this year’s exercise.

As the day unavoidably came to an end due to the inclement weather, a still impressive 2090 lbs of garbage and marine debris were removed from the Foreshore coastline. The most popular items found were plastic bags, plastic utensils (forks, knives, spoons), beverage bottles and tiny plastic pieces. 

The most unusual items picked up were quite expansive, ranging from a headboard to bike handles, refrigerator parts and even a hair dryer.

Overall, the day was an eventful one, albeit cut short due to the sudden storm that rolled in. The day was filled with most importantly, data collection followed by rain baths, a singular bee sting, in-house garbage hauling and even birthday celebrations.

Photos below show some of the EU's and EPPD's staff, volunteers and trash collected at ICC 2019

Final National Workshop for the Project “Development of Minamata Initial Assessment for the Caribbean

Mercury is a highly toxic chemical, exposure to which can have serious health implications such as neurological and behavioural disorders, impairment of the digestive and immune systems, and in extreme cases death. The Minamata Convention on Mercury is an international agreement developed in response to the immensely hazardous characteristics of this chemical. In an effort to facilitate the ratification and early implementation of the Convention, a sub-regional project entitled, “Development of Minamata Initial Assessments (MIA) in the Caribbean” was initiated. Trinidad and Tobago, in conjunction with three (3) other territories of the Caribbean participated in the project to conduct a mercury inventory for each island, and to determine the main mercury sources, legislative gaps and health and environmental impacts. There were also several communications materials developed under the project, and these along with the project’s results were shared over a series of Final National Results Workshops in October, 2018 in North and South Trinidad and in Tobago.

The aim of these Workshops were dissemination of the main aforementioned outputs of the project, inclusive of the communications materials which included vivid infographics as well as both national and regional videos. These were developed on both regional and national scope, to raise awareness and prompt action on the need for holistic mercury management. The format of the Workshops were designed to capture the audiences composed of key stakeholders but predominantly secondary school students, through the use of dramatic performances from the Drama Making a Difference (DMAD) Production Company.

Trinidad and Tobago is not yet a Party to the Minamata Convention on Mercury and thus we were pleased to have been given the opportunity to participate in this Minimata Initial Assessment (MIA) Project, as it afforded a more holistic and quantitative assessment into the status of mercury locally. Moving forward, the results of the study will be analysed and used to assist with the development of the policy directive, as the country develops a more definitive country position on signing the Minamata Convention on Mercury. Concurrently, it will also encourage more focused action on those sectors requiring more attention.

Ms. Keima Gardiner - Waste Management Specialist,  presents at the Workshop

DMAD Company during their performance

Student participants in Tobago

Student participants in North Trinidad

A student raises a question during the South Trinidad Workshop

Student participants in South Trinidad

International Coastal Clean-up 2016...Coming soon!

On September 17 2016, be part of the global movement against marine debris.

STAY TUNED FOR FURTHER DETAILS!

United Way day of recycling this Sunday 22nd May 2016!

World Environment Day 2015

World Environment Day (WED) is the principal vehicle used by the United Nations through which worldwide awareness of the environment is stimulated as well as it  is a global celebration also serving as the ‘people’s day’ for doing something collectively helpful for the environment.  The theme for WED 2015 is "Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume with Care”. 

To commemorate WED 2015, on June 11th 2015 the Environmental Policy and Planning Division was invited to facilitate lectures about environmental issues such as biodiversity conservation, waste management, ozone depletion and climate change to the students of the University of the West Indies (UWI) Primary School as part of their WED activities. The EPPD also set up an interactive display in the school's auditorium where students visited during break times and played various games that also served to further teach them about the environment.

Students were engaged, participative and fully enjoyed both the lectures and the display:

Trinidad and Tobago gets a National Waste Recycling Policy!

In February 2015, the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago has approved the National Waste Recycling Policy (NWRP).   

 

Taking into consideration existing overarching policies such as the National Integrated Waste Management Policy and the National Environmental Policy, the purpose of the NWRP is to establish an appropriate legislative, administrative and institutional framework for waste reduction and recycling.  

 

The goal of the Policy is to reduce waste requiring final disposal and thereby minimise the impact of waste on human health and the environment as well as improve resource use efficiency.

 

  To access and download the Policy, click on the link below:

• National Waste Recycling Policy

 

Green Office Policy Re-Initiation

On June 6th, 2014 the Environmental Policy and Planning Division (EPPD) of the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) re-initiated implementation efforts of the Trinidad and Tobago Green Government Policy. The event was held amongst the MEWR  Head Office staff  situated at Level 26, Tower D, Waterfront Complex.

Green Committee, EPPD

In preparation for re-initiation, the Green Government Policy was used as the basis for the development of an EPPD Green Office Policy. Additionally, there was also the formation of the keen and dynamic Green Committee who developed a series of informational bulletins which were emailed to staff . The theme of this campaign is ‘Keep a Green Scene’.



  Key components of the EPPD Green Office Policy include:

• Energy and Material Conservation
• Waste Management
• Green Procurement
• Greening of Meeting 
• Green Mass Communication 
• Green Office Culture 

 

 The relaunch featured an address by the Permanent Secretary of the MEWR, Ms. Vidiah Ramkhelawan which specified her commendation to the Green Committee for re-initiating the Green Office Policy and her endorsement of the re-implementation. It concluded with a ribbon cutting ceremony between the Permanent Secretary and the Environmental Manager, Dr. David Persaud to officially mark the re-launch. 

Ms. Ramkhelawan  (left) and Dr.  David Persaud; Environmental Manger, EPPD (right)  by cutting  ribbons by the recycling depots located in the Level 26 staff kitchen to officially re-launch the Green Office Policy.         

EPPD assists with YWCATT's Environment Programme

In May, 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 programme entitled "Environment: Our Space Our Responsibility".  The programme was intended to expose young women to environmental education.

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. The Programme consisted of three one hour sessions with the Form 1 students of Bishops Centenary College, Roberts Street,  Port-of-Spain:

• May 15, 2014  - Session 1: Biodiversity Conservation facilitated by Ms. Candace Amoroso  (Biodiversity Specialist ) and Ms. Anastasia Gordon (Environmental Policy Analyst)

Ms. Candace Amoroso speaks on Biodiversity and its importance

Ms. Anastasia Gordon sensitising the girls on the causes of biodiversity loss 

 

• May 22, 2014 - Session 2: Waste Management and Recycling  facilitated by Ms. Keima Gardiner (Environmental Engineering Specialist)



Ms. Gardiner enlightening the girls on waste management in Trinidad and Tobago

 

•  May 29, 2014 - Session 3: Climate Change and Ozone Layer Depletion facilitated by Ms. Sindy Singh (Research Analyst) and Ms. Neera Singh (Ozone Assistant, National Ozone Unit)

Ms. Singh Singh talking to the young ladies on Climate Change

Ms. Neera Singh presenting on Ozone Layer Depletion