Energy and the Environment

"The tranquility of Trinidad's Northern Range and North Coast belies problems of watershed degradation, coastal erosion and pollution which are typical of many Small Island Developing States - Photo by Willard Phillips, 2002"

From reforestation to ecological crop management, the Environmental assistance needed in Trinidad and Tobago spans far and wide. With seven projects on the ground, the Environmental team at UNDP has been making fundamental strides with the Government and within various communities of Trinidad and Tobago.

Over the past year however, UNDP has been working to support the Government in its response to a number of manifest national environmental challenges.

Areas for development:

  • Energy Security through the development of alternative energy sources
  • Environmental sustainability and Waste Management
  • Branding Tobago as a "green space" in support of sustainable tourism development
  • Enhancement of the urban environment of Trinidad and Tobago

Follow-up to international commitments:

The environment programme focuses on UNDP’s support in enabling Trinidad and Tobago to meet its obligations under the multilateral conventions for sustainable environmental management.

In this regard, several projects are currently funded under the Global Environment Fund focal areas:

  • Climate Change

  • Sustainable Land Management

  • Management of Persistent Organic Pollutants

  • Reduction of ozone depleting substances

  • The sustainable management of coastal zone areas.

The structure of the economy and its continued reliance on energy contributes to this inequality. In addition, the reliance on sectors such as energy and banking which are low employment creators, has created a significant informal sector in which females are significantly represented.

Skill building among those in this sector is being addressed through community-managed micro-credit programmes and the Social Development Small Grants Programme. The latter plays a critical role in rebuilding of two critical institutions – the family and the community.

Projects within the energy portfolio have been instrumental in assisting the country to meet their obligations under international treaties and conventions including Stockholm Convention On Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPS), Climate Change and Montreal Protocol.

In addition to meeting its international obligations, priority needs to be given on national issues such as solid waste management, and the loss of green spaces.

A comprehensive new portfolio of projects is being developed to address environmental national priorities. In 2006, UNDP co-hosted a regional Conference on Alternative Energy Resources. Following on this major initiative UNDP is positioning itself to be a major supporter of Government’s attempts to lead regional efforts at achieving energy security.
 

UNDP’s Environment portfolio in Trinidad and Tobago is concentrated in the following areas:

UNDP Project Title: Institutional Strengthening- Montreal Protocol

UNDP Project number:

Focus Area: Energy and Environment

00048083 

Service Line: National/Sectoral policy and planning to control ozone-depleting substances and persistent organic pollutants

Dates:

Status: Ongoing

Location: Trinidad and Tobago

Implementing Partner: Environmental Management Authority

Financial Information

Source of Funds:

Government

 

UNDP

 

Third-Party

 

Budget:

$US 60,000

Expenditure to date:

$US 28,671.41

Brief Description: The project aims to strengthen the institutional framework for the phase out of ozone depleting substances in Trinidad and Tobago

Project Document (Click Here)

 

UNDP Project Title: Terminal Phase Out Management Plan for CFC’s in Trinidad and Tobago – Phase II

UNDP Project number:

Focus Area:   Energy and Environment

00038478 

Service Line: 3.6: National/Sectoral policy and planning to control ozone-depleting substances and persistent organic pollutants

Dates: July 2006 – December 2007

Status: Ongoing

Location: Trinidad and Tobago

Implementing Partner: Environmental Management Authority

Financial Information

Source of Funds:

Government

 

UNDP

 

Third-Party

 

Budget:

 $US 240,000

Expenditure to date:

  $US 9,000

Brief Description: The project aims to facilitate the phase out of use of ozone depleting substances in Trinidad and Tobago through commercial retrofitting of the commercial refrigeration and mobile automotive sectors.

Project Document (Click Here)

 

UNDP Project Title: Climate Change

UNDP Project number:

Focus Area: Energy and Environment

  00014980

Service Line:   3.6: National/Sectoral policy and planning to control ozone-depleting substances and persistent organic pollutants

Dates: July 2001 – September, 2001

Status: Ongoing – nearing completion

Location: Trinidad and Tobago

Implementing Partner: Environmental Management Authority

Financial Information

Source of Funds:

Government

 

UNDP

 

Third-Party

 

Budget:

$US 318,870

Expenditure to date:

$US 292,213

Brief Description: The project involves the conduct of a self-assessment and stocktaking consultations to build upon existing knowledge gaps in the management of green house gas emissions nationally.

Project Document (Click Here)

 

UNDP Project Title: Second National Communication to the UNFCCC

UNDP Project number:

Focus Area: Energy and Environment

 00036383

Service Line: 3.6: National/Sectoral policy and planning to control ozone-depleting substances and persistent organic pollutants

Dates: January 2007 – December 2009

Status: Start-up Phase

Location: Trinidad and Tobago

Implementing Partner: Environmental Management Authority

Financial Information

Source of Funds:

Government

 

UNDP

 

Third-Party

 

Budget:

 $US 405,000

Brief Description: This project supports national assessment  activities for Trinidad and Tobago’s preparation of the second national  communication report to the UNFCCC.

Project Document (Click Here)

 

UNDP Project Title: Third National Report to the UNCCD

UNDP Project number:

Focus Area: Energy and Environment

 00051091

Service Line:  3.4:  Sustainable Land Management to Combat Desertification and Land Degradation

Dates: June 2006 – September 2006

Status: Completed

Location: Trinidad and Tobago

Implementing Partner: Ministry of Public Utilities and the Environment

Financial Information

Source of Funds:

Government

 

UNDP

 

Third-Party

 

Budget:

$US 12,360

Expenditure to date:

$US 8,173.50

 

 

Brief Description: This projects supports actions to enable Trinidad and Tobago to complete its third national report to UNCCD

Project Document (Click Here)

 

UNDP Project Title: Creation of Rainwater Harvesting Model

UNDP Project number:

Focus Area: Energy and Environment

00050217

Service Line: 3.2:  Effective Water Governance

Dates: January 2007 – December, 2007

Status: Ongoing

 

Location: Trinidad and Tobago

Implementing Partner: Caribbean Council for Science and Technology - NIHERST

Financial Information

Source of Funds:

Government

 

UNDP

 

Third-Party

 

Budget:

 $US 30,000

Expenditure to date:

 $US 27,000

Brief Description: This projects aims to implement a Rainwater Harvesting model for addressing the problem of water scarcity in Trinidad and Tobago.

Project Document (Click Here)

 

UNDP Project Title: Sustainable Land Management Project

UNDP Project number:

Focus Area: Energy and Environment

 00049943

Service Line:  3.4:  Sustainable Land Management to Combat Desertification and Land Degradation

Dates: June 2006 – September 2006

Status: Ongoing

Location: Trinidad and Tobago

Implementing Partner: Ministry of Public Utilities and the Environment

Financial Information

Source of Funds:

Government

 

UNDP

 

Third-Party

 

Budget:

$US 25.000

Expenditure to date:

$US 16,000

 

 

Brief Description: The goal of this project is to contribute to maintaining and improving eco-system stability, integrity, functions and services while enhancing sustainable livelihoods.

Project Document (Click Here)

 

UNDP Project Title:  Disaster Risk Reduction in the Most Vulnerable Communities

UNDP Project number:

Focus Area: Energy and Environment

00054000

Service Line:  3.4:  Sustainable Land Management to Combat Desertification and Land Degradation

Dates: October, 2006 – October, 2007

Status: Ongoing

Location: Trinidad and Tobago

Implementing Partner: Ministry of National Security (ODPM, NEMA)

Financial Information

Source of Funds:

Government

 

UNDP

 

Third-Party

 

Budget:

$US 26.000

Expenditure to date:

$US 7,000

Brief Description: The objective of this project is to develop a comprehensive public education tool which will be used to foster public understanding and awareness on disaster risks.

Project Document (Click Here)

 

UNDP Project Title: Clean, Green, Safe and Serene Development

UNDP Project number:

Focus Area: Energy and Environment

00053412

Service Line:  3.4:  Sustainable Land Management to Combat Desertification and Land Degradation

Dates: October, 2006 – October, 2007

Status: Ongoing

 

Location: Trinidad and Tobago

Implementing Partner: Tobago House of Assembly (THA)

Financial Information

Source of Funds:

Government

 

UNDP

 

Third-Party

 

Budget:

$US 30,000

Expenditure to date:

$US 200

Brief Description: The objective of this project is to provide policy advisory support to the THA in elaborating a framework for the implementing of its Comprehensive Economic Development  Plan (CEDP)

Project Document (Click Here)

 

Contact:  Mr. Willard Phillips
   Programme Specialist
  willard.phillips@undp.org.tt

Environmental Projects under the GEF/Small Grants Programme:

UNDP Project Title: Renewable Energy Technologies in Trinidad and Tobago - Pilot Project

UNDP Project number: 00047198

Focus Area: Energy and Environment

 

Service Line: 3.3: Access to sustainable energy services

Date: July 12, 2007

Status: Ongoing

Location: Trinidad and Tobago

Implementing Partner: Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries

Financial Information

Source of Funds:

Government

 23,084

UNDP

 -

Third-Party

 33,889

 

Budget:

 56,973

Expenditure to date:

 51,830

Brief Description: The Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries has articulated a vision on the introduction of renewable energy sources to supplement existing hydrocarbon-based sources of energy in the promotion of sustainable development. Consultation among the Ministry, the Tourism Development Company Ltd. (TDC), bpTT and UNDP identified the Tourism (Host Home) Sector as an appropriate opportunity to pilot a renewable energy project, the outcomes of which would help to inform a national renewable energy policy and programme.  To this end, the UNDP-implemented Global Environment Facility – Small Grants Programme (GEF/SGP) facilitated the development of a pilot project with the Tobago Bed and Breakfast Association (TBBA) and the Trinidad Host Home Association (THHA) respectively, on the substitution of electric water heaters in member host-home facilities with solar water heater systems. 

Project Document (Click Here)

 

PCA UNDP COPE May 2006.pdf

UNDP Project Title:  Certificate of Environmental Clearance Process (Training Programme)

UNDP Project number: 00051033

Focus Area: Energy and Environment

 

Service Line: 3.5: Conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity

Date: July 12, 2007

Status: Ongoing

Location: Trinidad and Tobago

Implementing Partner: Council of Presidents of the Environment (COPE)

Financial Information

Source of Funds:

Government

 -

UNDP

 -

Third-Party

 79,365

 

Budget:

 79,365

Expenditure to date:

 12,025

Brief Description: The objective of the training course is to develop a greater capability in the COPE membership to make informed inputs into the Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC) process as well as to comment meaningfully on other environmental issues.  Key activities include (1) a training course for participants from COPE member NGOs/CBOs in the review and feedback process on EIAs and to develop the necessary skills in use of environmental measurement indices; (2) equiping the COPE secretariat to manage the above training course; (3) procurement of the additional equipment required by COPE to deliver the training course; and (5) establishment of an appropriate facility to house COPE operations.  

Project Document(Click Here)

 

Contact: Richard Laydoo
  National Coordinator
  GEF Small Grants Programme
  richard.laydoo@undp.org.tt