Green Dreams — EMA’s Vision for T&T

October 25th, 2024

In recent years, the global urgency to address environmental crises has intensified, with small island nations like Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) on the frontline.  The 2018 Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment (VCA) Report highlights that 80% of T&T’s economy and 70% of its population are situated in coastal areas vulnerable to climate change, posing an imminent threat to economic stability and
public safety.

Addressing Vulnerabilities: Progress and Policies

Hayden Romano, Managing Director of the Environmental Management Authority (EMA), agrees that “Small Island Developing States (SIDS) such as Trinidad and Tobago will become increasingly vulnerable to temperature increases, changes in precipitation, and sea level rise.” Outlining the obstacles to environmental transformation, Romano explains, “The key challenges are public and private sector awareness and motivation to make the necessary changes to treat with our environmental challenges.” He adds, “The main obstacle is a lack of accountability/responsibility.”

Despite these issues, the EMA has made significant strides. Successful EMA-led efforts include the passage of the Waste Management Rules (WMR) in 2021, which supports the legal framework to improve the national management of hazardous and non-hazardous waste, and the Recyclable Solid Waste Collection Project, also known as iCARE.

With more than 700 collection sites nationwide, the iCARE project, which “promotes voluntary public participation in the recovery of beverage containers for recycling… has collected over three million bags.” To build on these advancements, ongoing efforts by other institutions are essential. Therefore, the Ministry of Public Utilities and the Trinidad and Tobago Solid Waste Management Company (SWMCOL) are updating national policies on integrated waste management, recycling, and deposit refund systems. 

Innovative Partnerships for a Sustainable Future

According to Romano, the EMA also actively collaborates with the private sector, with projects like the GEF-IWECO Quarry Rehabilitation Project and the Public/Private Tobago Recycling Initiative standing out as successful examples of these partnerships. He further underscored the EMA’s commitment to fostering innovation in combating environmental barriers. The EMA recently collaborated with the Ministry of Digital Transformation on the “D’Hub Challenge Series.” Through this programme, the Authority hopes to develop digital tools to collect and analyse noise pollution data in T&T.

Additionally, the EMA supports environmental research conducted by local and foreign universities. Consultants from T&T, seconded by the EMA, have been working for the past two years with the Regional Activity Centre/Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Information and Training Centre (RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe). Looking towards the future, the EMA anticipates that T&T, as a signatory to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Paris Agreement, will have a greater focus on climate mitigation strategies in accordance with the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). 

Romano adds that the use of the National Transparency System (NTS) enables T&T to develop several reports required to fulfil its UNFCCC obligations – the introduction of this system is a testament to the country’s commitment to addressing climate change issues. To realise the EMA’s green vision for T&T, Romano stresses the need for widespread engagement, “Cooperation with the citizenry, private sector, and local government authorities must be increased to improve the overall management of the environment for sustainable development.”

By Dixie-Ann Belle