MINISTER of Planning and Development Pennelope Beckles has said while climate change has had a global impact, it has had "even greater catastrophic effects" on small island developing nations, including Trinidad and Tobago. She vowed to help the region send a "clear, strong, collaborative message" about climate justice.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="660"] From left, Ministry of Works and Transport permanent Secretary Sonia Francis-Yearwood, Minister of Works and Transport rohan Sinanan, Minister of Planning and Development Pennelope Beckles-Robinson, managing director of the IAMovement, and Jonathan barcant pose for a photo at the IAMovement Green Infrastructure Conference at Hilton, Port of Spain. 2022.10.25 - Photos by Ayanna Kinsale[/caption]
She was speaking at the launch of the 2022 Green Infrastructure Conference at the Hilton on Tuesday morning. The conference is a joint venture between the National Gas Company (NGC) and the IAMovement.
The 27th Conference of the Parties (COP27) climate summit will be held in Egypt from November 6-18.
Beckles said since TT is a party to the Paris Agreement, her ministry is "laying the groundwork" for the country's participation through the Environmental Policy and Planning Division.
"We are today, as we speak, conducting a preparatory consultation with stakeholder groups on issues to be addressed at COP27, and in the coming weeks we will also conduct stakeholder sessions regarding the UN’s Conference on Biodiversity, also known as COP15.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="660"] Managing director of the IAMovement presents Minister of Planning and Development Pennelope Beckles-Robinson with a basket made with vetiver grass at the IAMovement Green Infrastructure Conference at Hilton, Port of Spain. 2022.10.25 - Photo by Ayanna Kinsale[/caption]
"(COP27) will allow our Caribbean region to represent our people and again approach the global North to deliver a clear, strong, collaborative message not only seeking heartfelt support, but more so to lobby for climate justice on behalf of our region."
She said despite countries like TT contributing the least to global warming and emissions that contribute to climate change, they suffer the greatest losses and damage due to climate-related crises.
"Steps towards the conservation and management of our limited land resources, and building resilience are crucial.
She said people can reduce their carbon footprint by planting trees and through maintenance, subsistence gardening to subsidise food, imports and improving the resilience of the land to climate-change impacts.
She urged people to consider more "green, nature-positive" approaches, as they are very beneficial.
"It is baffling why we have not, as a global community, utilised and institutionalised more of these solutions throughout our development plans and individual nations’ development trajectories."
Beckles also spoke about vetiver grass, as she believes it has the capacity to offset carbon emissions "through sequestration, as well as it
