Trinidad & Tobago's Planning & Development Minister

Areas (MPAs) and Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) by 2030. This is known as the “30by30 target”. This is important to climate change resilience because of the ocean’s carbon absorption abilities and scientific evidence indicates that effective protection of at least 30 percent of the global ocean will help to reverse adverse environmental impacts, preserve fish populations and sustain long-term ocean health. It also serves as a good example of a nature-based solution/ecosystem-based approach. The Minister reiterates that the policy work is also in an advanced state to support Trinidad and Tobago’s penetration of electric vehicles in keeping with global car manufacturing trends. A consultant has been engaged by the United Nations Environment Programme and Denmark Technical University (DTU/UNEP) to develop funding proposals for the instalment of ultra- fast solar electric vehicle chargers. The IPCC report represents clear and present danger for which every effort needs to be pursued. The Kigali Amendment under the Montreal Protocol also aims to address the climate emergency by phasing out ozone depleting substances which are also even more potent greenhouse gases. Trinidad and Tobago is taking an all-round approach to addressing climate change by maximizing synergy and complementarity by also taking action in the refrigeration and cooling sector. The most important stakeholder in the climate emergency remains the individual or the average citizen who would be affected by the physical and socioeconomic impacts of climate change. The average citizen therefore also has significant individual responsibility to adopt climate-friendly behavior through energy conservation by minimizing the use of electricity, car-pooling, recycling and minimizing waste generation which also produce greenhouse gases in landfills, conserving water, and developing food self-sufficiency as part of building climate resilience to the adverse impacts of climate change. Regulations in the air conditioning and refrigeration sector have placed T&T in a leading position regarding ozone management.