T&T’s coastal and in-land regions are showing signs of the impact climate change and the ones facing the biggest risks are the people who depend on T&T for their safety and security.
It is not only crucial to share ideas on how to improve the environment but everyone must take responsibility for the world, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said when she addressed a climate change summit at the United Nation’s headquarters in Manhattan, New York on Tuesday. “T&T stands ready to partner with all nations in collective global action against climate change.”
The PM’s speech, which lasted ten minutes, focused on mankind being the greatest environmental threat of this century and the impact of climate change. “I must immediately also lay down the context of its acceleration and its increasing danger to us all: That, ironically, among the most culpable contributors to the quickening of climate change is mankind. “I say this because I believe we are now very clear that collective action is not only desirable; it is imperative.”
She said as a small island developing state T&T fully appreciated its frontline position among countries that could be most negatively affected by climate change. “This country also supported more determined collective action on climate change to achieve the pathway of keeping global temperature increase below 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2020,” Persad-Bissessar added. In an overview of T&T’s 2011 national climate change policy, she said this comprised a robust framework of cross-sectoral policy instruments, fiscal incentives and initiatives focused on the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. “We have reorganised national development policy to ensure that we do not go the route of vesting the interests of climate change action in one policy, but rather weave the imperatives through the entire national development policy.”
She said in this country’s output industrial sector, there has been greater access to substantial allowances and incentives to encourage energy efficiency in our petrochemical sector in particular. A national energy-audits rollout, she added, has also been undertaken to encourage small businesses and households to implement energy efficient practices. Regarding the transport sector the prime minister said there was an ongoing effort by T&T in the use of fuels is now making progress encourage a switch from diesel and petrol to compressed natural gas (CNG). “We have also reduced duties and taxes on imported CNG vehicles and more recently, added incentives for the import and domestic sale of hybrid and electric-powered road-cars.”
In power generation, she said T&T already generated 100 per cent of its electricity from natural gas using single and combined cycle technology, with a view to developing full combined cycle capability. “This combination of cleaner fuel and fuel efficiency has allowed us to advance with low fossil fuel emissions in this sector. “We are preparing to advance with the promotion and widespread use and development of renewable energy as the next stage in the implementation of our national carbon reduction strategy.”
On renewable energy, she said, this country remained committed to a feed-in tariffs policy within the next three months and the implementation of this policy shortly thereafter. “This clears the way for accelerated deployment of Solar PV wind and biomass generated electricity into the national grid by householders, state entities and the business sector.” Persad-Bissessar gave T&T’s commitment to full engagement with partners around the world to aggressively reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the national level.