A fox dressed like a sheep
Our economy is based on the country’s oil and gas reserves which fuel a vibrant energy and petrochemical industry. While hydrocarbon resources are considered a boon, experience shows that this blessing can also have very negative outcomes. For example, the availability of relatively cheap energy and a history of fuel subsidies has led to disproportionately high levels of energy consumption and GHGs.
Taking action
The island is acutely aware of the global threats posed by climate change and the need to make adjustments at the national level to contribute to international mitigation efforts. Policy makers have therefore recently drafted a National Climate Change Policy which identifies the following potential impacts:
- Damage to the country’s built infrastructure caused by increased frequency and intensity of hurricanes
- Thermal stress on delicate ecosystems caused by increasing sea surface temperature
- Erosion of coastlines and increasing salination of soil propagated by rising sea levels
- Reduced percolation and recharge of groundwater reserves occasioned by decreasing precipitation
Accepting its responsibility to reduce GHGs, Trinidad and Tobago is a signatory to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol. The Government’s policy is defined in the Medium-Term Policy Framework and the National Climate Change Policy. Both of these documents establish a framework for decisive action to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
Standards to the rescue
The Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards (TTBS) recognizes that International Standards are important for supporting national initiatives to monitor and reduce energy consumption and GHGs.
The TTBS is an active participant of the ISO technical committee on environmental management (ISO/TC 207). It also coordinates inputs from the country’s National Mirror Committee (NMC) which is made up of national experts and other key stakeholders and replicates or “mirrors” the work of the ISO TC. In this way, the NMC has contributed actively to the development of key International Standards including ISO 14001 (environmental management) and ISO 14064 (greenhouse gas measurement).
Moreover, by adopting ISO 14001 nationally, and managing a related certification programme over many years, TTBS has greatly promoted the benefits of the standard for controlling energy consumption and environmental impacts. Recently we hosted a national stakeholder workshop on ISO 50001 (energy management) to build awareness of the benefits of this standard.
Long road
Recognizing the urgent need to address climate change, Trinidad and Tobago has implemented a number of national initiatives to change perceptions and cultural attitudes affecting patterns of energy consumption, water reuse and even waste disposal.
In this fight to turn back the clock on climate change, the country must use all the technology, assistance and tools available today. International Standards are one of the key elements in this arsenal to address the problems facing the nation and the world at large.
About Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago consists of twin islands with a total land mass of some 5000 km2. The country boasts a population of 1.3 million largely dispersed on coastal low-lying communities where most of the islands’ physical development has taken place over the years.
The Trinidad and Tobago Standards Bureau management team.
