charles.kongsoo@guardian.co.tt
Minister of Planning and Development Pennelope Beckles says electric vehicles as well as the target goals to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the transport and industrial sectors by 15 per cent and a reduction of 30 per cent in public transportation emissions, are part of the Government’s Vision 2030 National Development Strategy.
She was addressing members of the audience and high school students who were participating in the Rotary Club of Central Port-of-Spain’s Model United Nations debate on climate change, at the Radisson Hotel, Wrightson Road, yesterday.
“Trinidad and Tobago has been able to successfully complete and maintain the phasing out of the highly-destructive, ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), and we are working to phase out hydro-chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) another ozone-depleting chemical found in the foam and refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) sectors.
“We aim to prevent biodiversity loss and enhance the management effectiveness of our local protected areas, forests and mangrove swamps, which contribute to eliminating harmful carbon dioxide levels from the environment.
“We have set ambitious targets to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the power generation, transport and industrial sectors of 15 per cent by 2030 from the “business as usual” scenario; and a reduction of 30 per cent in our public transportation emissions by 30 per cent from “business as usual” by 2030.
“We are also enhancing our plan for electric vehicles, putting the final touches on a policy for the transition of our workforce in the context of climate change.”
She said although the country may be among the least emitters, small island developing states such as Trinidad and Tobago tend to lose the most.
Beckles said many islands similar to Trinidad and Tobago were threatened by rising sea levels as well as the increasing number and severity of extreme weather events.
She replied that in terms of loss of life and damage to property and infrastructure these small economies can easily be crippled or even wiped out.
Beckles said The Ministry of Planning and Development, which has responsibility for the environment, understanding the urgent need to be a part of the solution, was working in support of Sustainable Development Goal 13, Climate Action.
She explained that through a National Development Strategy called Vision 2030, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago had placed the environment at the forefront of its development agenda, which was articulated in one of the five thematic areas, Theme V: Placing the Environment at the Centre of Social and Economic Development.
Beckles added that the country joined other UN member nations and assented to the Paris Agreement, formally acknowledging T&T’s support of the urgent need to scale up its global response to climate change.
She stated that at the heart of the UN’s Agenda for Sustainable Development, were the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which together, form an urgent call to action by all member states.
Beckles emphasised that one of the SDGs, specifically Goal #13: Climate Action, beaconed member countries to collectively take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
Also at the event were Sanjin Soldatic, Deputy Ambassador, EU Delegation to Trinidad and Tobago, Shante Moore, Charge D’Affaires, US Embassy, Sharifa Ali-Abdullah, Country Representative, UNDP, Juan Miguel Diez, Director, UN Information Centre, Omar Mohammed, Chief Executive Officer, The Cropper Foundation, Lara Quentrall-Thomas, past District Governor Rotary District 7030, Giselle Holder, Rotary District 7030 Assistant Governor, North Clubs, rotary members and guests.
