Implementation of the National Carbon Reduction Strategy

April 20, 2012:

Trinidad and Tobago Government, particularly the Ministry of Housing and the Environment is moving full speed ahead with the implementation of the National Carbon Reduction Strategy. This project, which is expected to reduce carbon emotions nationally over the next two to three years forms part of the National Climate Change Policy.
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is a substantial part of Green House Gas (GHG) due to its abundance in the atmosphere. Trinidad and Tobago, as the leading Caribbean producer of oil and gas, has a relatively significant GHG emission. The development of such energy intensive industries, coupled with the high level of urbanization has created several environmental challenges, including increasing GHG emissions.
Trinidad and Tobago is a signatory to a number of conventions, and has international obligations which mandate national action to address the global environmental challenges.
This country also has a legally binding obligation under the United Nationals Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to contribute to the achievement of the stabilisation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and is consequently seeking to develop and implement carbon reduction emissions strategies.
Three major local sectors were identified as potential sources for mitigation of GHG/CO2 emissions in Trinidad and Tobago. These are power production, energy/industrial processes and transport.
Some of the objectives of the project will include:
Development of training programme on carbon reduction strategies- this will involve a capacity building programe which would be designed and delivered to Government ministries and agencies on areas such as socio-economic and cost benefit analysis.
Feasibility study of intervention options for all three sectors: Initially a technical analysis of each of the three sectors would be conducted to indentify existing policy and legislation and to identify CO2 reduction opportunities.
Development of a framework for Carbon reduction strategy implementation: This includes the institutional arrangements to advise implementation framework. Following this, a framework for strategy implementation action would be drafted and consultations with key national stakeholders would be held and the framework revised accordingly.