T&T Advances National Climate Priorities with Inaugural Pre-COP

Conference

Climate and environment stakeholders discuss country priorities at first ever national

consultation, ahead of global UN climate summit, COP27

October 26 th , 2022: Ahead of this year’s pivotal climate change talks, to take place in Egypt at COP27,
the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago has engaged in a milestone national Pre-COP
Consultation. The workshop, entitled “Prelude to COP27: How Trinidad and Tobago Can Lead the
Region In Raising Resiliency” took place on Wednesday 26 th October and was led by the Honourable
Pennelope Beckles, Minister of Planning and Development.

The workshop was presented by the Ministry of Planning and Development in collaboration with the
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Climate Analytics Caribbean, and was attended by
government officials and representatives of civil society, environmental institutions, and private
enterprise.

COP27 will bring leaders from 197 nations and territories together in Sharm-El-Sheikh, Egypt from
November 6 th – 18 th to meet as the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The decisions and agreements made there will determine the
way forward for the world on critical issues related to combating climate change and limiting global
temperature increase to 1.5°C.

As a small island developing State, Trinidad and Tobago is considered a country that is among the
world’s most vulnerable to severe climate change impacts. Of particular concern for this country at

COP27 will be the role of just transition in implementing decisions, mitigation, adaptation, climate
finance, and loss and damage.

“For Trinidad and Tobago, the decisions to be taken at this COP must help us to further our own national
implementation efforts to tackle the climate crisis,” said the Honorable Pennelope Beckles, Minister of
Planning and Development. “We are advancing our national efforts with targeted adaptation
interventions as well as initiatives such as increasing fines for illegal timbering and oil pollution. These
are complemented by incentives for renewable energy expansion and the construction of the 112-
megawatt solar photovoltaic system which is set to begin next year. We are also in the process of
finalizing a just transition policy that will ensure that Trinidad and Tobago can benefit fully from the
inevitable global energy transition whilst ensuring that none of our citizens are left behind.”
“Our discussions today will put us in good stead to ensure that the national delegation to the Conference
can secure tangible benefits to Trinidad and Tobago in line with national priorities,” she added.
Topics discussed at the consultation included:

  • Current climate science and its impacts on Trinidad and Tobago
  • Introduction to the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, and an overview of COP26 outcomes
    (Glasgow Pact) and current state of play
  • Issues to be discussed at COP 27 and expected outcomes, including arising from the Glasgow
    Pact
  • Implementing Trinidad and Tobago’s Climate Change Agenda: The role of the Just Transition
    Policy

Ms. Rueanna Haynes, Director of Climate Analytics Caribbean, which has been assisting the Ministry of
Planning and Development with the drafting of the Just Transition Plan, noted the importance of
accelerating Just Transition to safeguard societal welfare and achieve climate goals.
“This national consultation has been imperative to creating an informative platform to bring the critical
climate issues affecting us as a small island developing State to the fore,” Haynes added. “We look
forward to taking these issues to the global community at COP27 and working to achieve decisions that
redound to the benefit of Trinidad and Tobago and our vulnerable region.”

END

About Climate Analytics Caribbean:
Climate Analytics was formed in 2008 to help achieve a climate-safe, sustainable future for all.

We deliver cutting-edge science analysis and support to accelerate climate action to limit warming
below 1.5°C. Our work empowers countries, communities, and peoples on the frontlines of the climate
crisis.
Climate Analytics Caribbean is based in Trinidad and Tobago and aims to significantly augment the
scientifically informed, knowledge-based resources which Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and
Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in the region require to effectively counter the effects of climate
change.

T&T Advances National Climate Priorities with Inaugural Pre-COP

Conference

Climate and environment stakeholders discuss country priorities at first ever national

consultation, ahead of global UN climate summit, COP27

October 26 th , 2022: Ahead of this year’s pivotal climate change talks, to take place in Egypt at COP27,
the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago has engaged in a milestone national Pre-COP
Consultation. The workshop, entitled “Prelude to COP27: How Trinidad and Tobago Can Lead the
Region In Raising Resiliency” took place on Wednesday 26 th October and was led by the Honourable
Pennelope Beckles, Minister of Planning and Development.

The workshop was presented by the Ministry of Planning and Development in collaboration with the
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Climate Analytics Caribbean, and was attended by
government officials and representatives of civil society, environmental institutions, and private
enterprise.

COP27 will bring leaders from 197 nations and territories together in Sharm-El-Sheikh, Egypt from
November 6 th – 18 th to meet as the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The decisions and agreements made there will determine the
way forward for the world on critical issues related to combating climate change and limiting global
temperature increase to 1.5°C.

As a small island developing State, Trinidad and Tobago is considered a country that is among the
world’s most vulnerable to severe climate change impacts. Of particular concern for this country at

COP27 will be the role of just transition in implementing decisions, mitigation, adaptation, climate
finance, and loss and damage.

“For Trinidad and Tobago, the decisions to be taken at this COP must help us to further our own national
implementation efforts to tackle the climate crisis,” said the Honorable Pennelope Beckles, Minister of
Planning and Development. “We are advancing our national efforts with targeted adaptation
interventions as well as initiatives such as increasing fines for illegal timbering and oil pollution. These
are complemented by incentives for renewable energy expansion and the construction of the 112-
megawatt solar photovoltaic system which is set to begin next year. We are also in the process of
finalizing a just transition policy that will ensure that Trinidad and Tobago can benefit fully from the
inevitable global energy transition whilst ensuring that none of our citizens are left behind.”
“Our discussions today will put us in good stead to ensure that the national delegation to the Conference
can secure tangible benefits to Trinidad and Tobago in line with national priorities,” she added.
Topics discussed at the consultation included:

  • Current climate science and its impacts on Trinidad and Tobago
  • Introduction to the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, and an overview of COP26 outcomes
    (Glasgow Pact) and current state of play
  • Issues to be discussed at COP 27 and expected outcomes, including arising from the Glasgow
    Pact
  • Implementing Trinidad and Tobago’s Climate Change Agenda: The role of the Just Transition
    Policy

Ms. Rueanna Haynes, Director of Climate Analytics Caribbean, which has been assisting the Ministry of
Planning and Development with the drafting of the Just Transition Plan, noted the importance of
accelerating Just Transition to safeguard societal welfare and achieve climate goals.
“This national consultation has been imperative to creating an informative platform to bring the critical
climate issues affecting us as a small island developing State to the fore,” Haynes added. “We look
forward to taking these issues to the global community at COP27 and working to achieve decisions that
redound to the benefit of Trinidad and Tobago and our vulnerable region.”

END

About Climate Analytics Caribbean:
Climate Analytics was formed in 2008 to help achieve a climate-safe, sustainable future for all.

We deliver cutting-edge science analysis and support to accelerate climate action to limit warming
below 1.5°C. Our work empowers countries, communities, and peoples on the frontlines of the climate
crisis.
Climate Analytics Caribbean is based in Trinidad and Tobago and aims to significantly augment the
scientifically informed, knowledge-based resources which Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and
Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in the region require to effectively counter the effects of climate
change.

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