Trinidad and Tobago

Core analysis conducted and presented by Chandelle O'Neil and Katrina Khan-Roberts of Trinidad and Tobago in November, 2021.

Executive Summary

The emission target and plan of action within the NDC of the government of Trinidad and Tobago (GORTT) are described as a reduction in overall emissions from three target sectors - power generation, transportation, and industry - by 15% by 2030 from business-as-usual (BAU) identified at 2013 levels. The climate policy issue is that, though GORTT is a signatory on many multilateral agreements, the implementation of these are far from effective on the ground. Gender, Youth, Civil Society, Climate Justice, and Equity are not explicitly dealt with in the NDC. The potential of the NDC exists as there is a consideration for these becoming a priority in the future. A study on the mainstreaming of gender in the NDC was conducted in 2019 which identified all aspects of gender, prioritising women, girls, and vulnerable groups and how they are affected by risks posed by climate change. In Trinidad and Tobago, it is expected that climate change will result in sea-level rise, temperature rise, extreme weather as well as changes in seasonality. Vulnerable groups have the potential to lead on climate action. The emissions reduction target does not reflect the highest possible ambition that GORTT can reach. Greater attention is needed on government spending as well as management and human-power levels in the sector. There are many highly educated, passionate, female, unemployed persons. 

As the most industrialised nation in the Caribbean, GORTT must do more than the minimum. TT is ranked in the top five countries for carbon emissions by GDP. The plans of action with regard to mitigation, adaptation, loss and damage, finance, and empowerment are all sorely lacking. This can be remedied by adjusting organisational structures within the state, reassessing the workforce, and making vacancies available to competent persons as well as engaging civil society.

Quick Links

Outline

  1. Introduction

  2. Ambition

  3. Equity

  4. Recommendations

  5. Conclusion

  6. References Cited

1. Introduction

This analysis is of Trinidad and Tobago’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement from a young, feminist perspective. It aims to review climate justice, equity, needs, and responsibilities with regard to country-specific factors. It also explores how the Government of Trinidad and Tobago (GORTT) can improve gender equality and justice for future generations, and how youth and civil society impact the NDC. It will not consider statements from COP26.

GORTT is heavily dependent on fossil fuels and derives most of its economic growth from industry (Vasquez, 2021) and hit peak gas in 2010 (Bahaw, 2021). Overall, issues surrounding criminal activity, corruption, and poor legislative implementation and enforcement lead to violence against women and poor protection of vulnerable groups. Developmental indicators show T&T to be on the more developed end of the spectrum, such as a high literacy and GDP, but society is not environmentally conscious and has no interest in sustainability or climate. Many projects have been implemented by GORTT by international organisations. GORTT is a signatory to many Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs).

GORTT submitted NDCs in August 2015, a six-page document, with no review in October 2021. The Ministry of Planning and Development, Environmental Policy and Planning Division, is responsible for the NDC. GORTT has stated aims to achieve a reduction in overall emissions in three target sectors - power generation, transportation and industry - by 15% by 2030 from business-as-usual (BAU). SDGs are not referenced in the NDC, but there was mention of sustainable development and green jobs. It is notable that the most recent IPCC (2021) report said that SIDS are more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and investing in adaptation measures such as disaster risk reduction or community-based approaches.

2. Ambition

2.a Mitigation

Scope and Coverage

In the Trinidad and Tobago NDC, Mitigation Sectors are exclusively limited to transportation, power generation, and industry. The Greenhouse gasses identified are exclusively limited to Carbon dioxide (CO2); Methane (CH4); Nitrous Oxide (N2O).

GHG Target

The GHG Target type is emissions reduction below the Business as Usual Scenario (BAU). Emission reduction from projected emissions based on BAU to the target year for emission reduction 2030. The target emission level for the target year (in MtCO2) is one million, seven hundred thousand tonnes of CO2e. The baseline year for emission reduction is 2013. The emission level in the base year is one hundred and three million tonnes of CO2e. The emission reduction compared to the baseline year is 15%. At this time work is continuing, however, there is no formal greenhouse gas inventory, partially due to the lack of data and information as well as poor legislative structure for enforcement of this type of regulation (GORTT, 2021a).

Level of ambition of mitigation targets

Mitigation targets are moderately ambitious, considering the magnitude of the carbon footprint of this small island developing state. The country ranks 4th at 27.14 tonnes per capita in GHG emissions as of 2019 data (Our World in Data, 2020). The country’s emission reduction target set out in the NDC does not conform with the 1.5-degree limit and therefore can be seen as highly insufficient. Legislation hardly exists that takes climate, gender or youth into consideration, further heightening the urgent need for legislative reform, policies and guidelines in order to attain sustainability

1d) Fairness and Ambition
GORTT NDC explains that it considers that its NDC is fair and ambitious in the light of national circumstances by stating its role as an industrialised SIDS. It is noted that the per capita emissions account for less than 1% of the global emissions, however, it faces acute vulnerabilities in spite of this small contribution. This lacks the detail associated with the complexity of the situation of GORTT. The fragility of the ecosystem is acknowledged, but the responsibilities of GORTT in the rampant expansion and prioritisation of industry and oil and gas are not adequately defined. More must be done than the promise of legislative reform which has not occurred. 


The NDC addresses specific principles mentioned in the Paris Agreement, recognising the legally binding commitment of all Parties to achieving the objective of the UNFCCC as articulated in its Article 2, as well as the progression of ambition over time, aiming at absolute emission reduction targets of 15% by 2030. The NDC fails to explicitly take into account intergenerational equity or vulnerable groups. 

Transition
The target to phase out fossil fuels was not mentioned as the economy is primarily based on oil and gas production and refining. While the world moves towards a reduction in fossil fuel consumption, it is difficult for GORTT to make this decision as the overbearing cost of transforming the energy sector is too high for the current energy consumption and needs of the country. This stems from low resource costs and heavily subsidised standard of living encouraging waste and excess in society. The target for the expansion of renewables has only recently become a topic due to COP 26 and can not be included as part of this NDC review. Subsidies, grants and funding for fossil fuels have been reduced as GORTT has been in a deficit budget for a number of years which puts strain on the economy. 

Emission reductions

Mention of a carbon trading scheme is made in the NDC though there seems to be no action on this as of the time of this analysis. 

Accountability of NDCs mitigation targets

The NDC contains no detailed explanation of either assumptions or methodologies for accounting GHG emissions or removals, or for implementation of policies, measures, or strategies. It appears to highlight actions that do not have substantial impacts, such as public transportation, and not the larger sectors such as energy generation and industry, this can be identified as insufficient overall progress on mitigating emissions.

2.b Adaptation

Adaptation is mentioned as a vehicle by which GORTT will achieve a low carbon economy, however, it is not explored. No diversification plans are included in the NDC, nor any related projects, measures, or initiatives. These however do exist outside of the NDC and some work has been done in this area, hoping to be included in the future update. Co-benefits of adaptation and mitigation are expressed. At the time of this analysis, GORTT has not submitted an adaptation communication, however, it is in a draft. 

2.c Loss and Damage

Loss and damage is only considered in arbitrary language. There is mention of effects on society that may incur costs, such as air quality and the repercussions on public health expenditure.  

2.d Finance

No information is available about climate funding but the NDC mentions USD$2 billion is required for reducing emissions in three sectors by 15% by 2030. To support this there has been the removal of all customs duties, motor vehicle tax, and value-added tax on the importation of battery-powered electric vehicles and the installation of electric charging stations to reduce public transportation emissions by 30% compared to 2013 levels by December 31, 2030. GORTT has a climate fund that has collected from private businesses and disbursed approximately TTD$41 million to support environmental projects (GORTT 2021b). GORTT has gotten USD$16.7 million for one project from the Green Climate Fund (2021). There is no mention of gender-responsive budgeting and there is no data available for sex-disaggregated data around climate finance.

3. Equity

3.a Participation and Inclusion

There was no participation of civil society or any other groups in the preparation of the NDC, however, since then there have been some efforts by the government to create multi-level committees to bring inclusion and representation.

3.b Gender

The NDC Support Programme provided assistance to GORTT in the implementation of its NDC by performing a Gender Analysis of the policy and institutional framework for mainstreaming gender in the NDC, conducted between January and May 2019. The aim of this was to enable a more gender-responsive approach to NDC planning and implementation processes through the NDC Support Programme. Diverse stakeholders ranging from government ministries and agencies, industry and civil society participated in focus groups, surveys, and interviews as part of the data gathering process. The results of this analysis showed that a gender-responsive lens was not used in designing, implementing, or taking into any consideration at all in the NDC as shown in Figures 1 and 2. 

Figure 1: The Status of Gender in Trinidad and Tobago

Figure 2: Summary of the shortcomings of TT NDCs.

3.c Youth

There is no reference to intergenerational justice or how to address it.

3.d Indigenous people and communities

No mention of the knowledge and expertise of indigenous people and local communities is included.

3.e Rights

There is no consideration for persons with disabilities or human rights.

3.f Environmental Racism

The NDC does not consider environmental racism.

4. Recommendations

There is a major, overarching lack of legislation, therefore the formalisation of a strong policy mandate for the mainstreaming of gender, and the importance of women and gender-focused NGOs in policy development and governance mechanisms. Data is also a limitation in the process of mainstreaming gender, therefore academic institutions must be engaged and accurate findings be supplied to policymakers. There is also a need for a change in the culture of society, as well as the leadership so that it can be more inclusive and safe. This can be achieved by education and mainstreaming from the education system and through parallel interventions in at-risk groups as well as increasing training for those in policy-making positions. 

5. Conclusion

Most recent IPCC reports state the science behind the already occurring climate emergency. Trinidad and Tobago needs a gender-sensitive and -responsive approach with a Gender Action Plan and Gender Focal Point to ensure the faults of patriarchal design are not perpetuated in tackling climate justice as it intersects with social justice. 

TT was one of the first parties to submit an NDC, therefore it is understandable that it was not expanded beyond the requirements at the time. This, however, does not diminish the fact that an updated NDC has not been presented as of October 2021. In this regard, the analysis is based on a submission that did not take into consideration many of the important factors of interest in this study. Namely, gender justice and equity must be included and prioritized in the updated NDC, alongside youth, intergenerational equity, and justice for young and future generations. Marginalized voices, such as the indigenous peoples and other minority groups, must be included in the update and implementation of the NDC. The NDC fails to center climate justice and equity. At this point, there is no process for the public, non-profit organizations, youth, and women’s groups can not provide input on the NDC. Civil society is treated with tokenism and placated by vacant shows of appreciation, even though most adaptation and empowerment are enacted by these individuals. 

6. References Cited

NDC Ambassador Chandelle O'Neil (they/them) is a sustainable energy specialist and human rights, advocate. They received a Bachelor’s of Mechanical Engineering, with a specialization in sustainable energy systems design. Along with volunteering with CAISO Sex and Gender Justice, they have their own startup, Mawu Energy, that supports energy efficiency, sustainable design, and resource management in residential and commercial buildings and properties. They were a Global Water Partnership-Caribbean (GWP-C) Young Caribbean Water Entrepreneurs Shark Tank Competition Finalist in December 2020. Additionally, they are a Climate Reality Leader, Youth Climate Expert with Unite for Climate Action, an ambassador with the HEY (Healthy and Environmentally-Friendly Youth) Campaign, volunteer with the Fondes Amandes Reforestation project, member of YOUNGO, and volunteer with Care About Climate. They are also pursuing a Global Leadership Diploma with the UN Mandated University for Peace.

NDC Mentor Katrina Khan-Roberts is a Tourism, Health, Safety, and Environment professional with a special interest in the sustainable use of the coastal zone and conservation of the marine ecosystem. Mrs. Khan-Roberts has worked in the manufacturing and petrochemical industries, consulted on government developmental projects, and has volunteered extensively in the performing arts and in multiple environmental and youth organizations. She advocates actively for awareness of climate change, sustainable development, and a holistic lifestyle. She also shares information on anthropogenic effects on ecosystems and the interconnectedness of human constructs via art and poetry.