Climate change: One for Budget 2018

As a small island developing state, Trinidad and Tobago is particularly vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change, such as those related to temperature increases, changes in precipitation and sea level rise.

Specific sectors that are likely to be impacted include agriculture, human settlements and infrastructure, coastal zones, water resources and tourism. For example, increases in temperature, less rainfall and a decrease in soil quality will lead to decreased crop yields and a decrease in rainfall will directly result in the reduced availability of potable water.

According to a 2015 report on the status of climate change data in Trinidad and Tobago, climatic change needs to be factored into water management strategies, drought management and flood damage reduction programs.

Other vulnerable sectors for which measures would be required include coastal resources, agriculture, forestry, health, and food security.

Water resource managers would need to consider present and future demand due to declining rainfall, more frequent and longer dry spells, higher evaporation rates and salinity intrusion. Regarding the health sector, higher incidences of vector-borne diseases, such as dengue fever, have been occurring since 1970. In December 2013, the first case of the vector-borne disease chikungunya, originating from Africa and Asia, was confirmed in the Caribbean as changing climate continued to create conditions for the proliferation of the mosquitoes that carry these diseases.

Greenhouse gas inventories for all emitting sectors including power generation, transportation, industry, waste, and agriculture have been conducted as part of the reporting obligations of Trinidad and Tobago as a signatory to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Trinidad and Tobago accounts for less than 1 % of greenhouse gases in the context of global absolute emissions, but has a relatively high per capita emission.

The carbon dioxide emissions level of Trinidad and Tobago for 2008 was the highest in the region. This is because of having a small population coupled with being the leading Caribbean producer of oil and gas.

Carbon dioxide emissions from the energy sector increased by over 300% since 1990 and more than doubled in the transport sector for the same period, especially since an increasing number of motor vehicles are registered. Carbon dioxide emissions from power generation have increased by almost 50% comparing to the 1990 value, and emissions from the industrial processes sector have increased by over 100 % since 1990.

Accordingly, the Government has defined the policy framework for a low carbon development plan through the National Climate Change Policy 2011, and developed a Carbon Reduction Strategy for the power generation, transportation and industrial sectors. Implementing the provisions of this policy is critical and necessary to ensure a sustainable development path that will redound to the benefits of society as a whole in the short, medium and long terms.

Building climate resilience through the reduction of carbon emissions and reducing climate vulnerability in all sectors will create green jobs and have significant benefits from an air quality and associated public health costs perspective, as well as enhance the coping ability and capacity to the adverse impacts of climate change.

The aim of the climate change policy is to reduce overall emissions from the three sectors by 15% by 2030.

Trinidad and Tobago also committed to reduce its public transportation emissions by 30% compared to 2013 levels by December 31, 2030. The estimated cost of achieving the reduction objectives is US$2 billion, which is expected to be met partly through domestic funding and conditional on international climate financing including through the Green Climate Fund.

Being a signatory to the UNFCCC, Trinidad and Tobago committed to pursuing a lowcarbon development path, consistent with the principles of sustainable development.

This is to be done through the development and delivery of strategies and actions for maximizing renewable energy resources, clean energy and clean production technology as well as adapting to the adverse impacts of climate change through integration within all aspects of national development in its infrastructural, human and socio-economic systems.

As September approaches, we hope to see evidence of the government’s commitment to the welfare of the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago in the 2018 budget and the National Economic Plan.