On November 28^th 2018, the Ministry of Planning and Development (MOPD) organized a validation workshop for the joint initiative on “Energy Efficiency through the Development of Low-carbon RAC Technologies” in Trinidad and Tobago which is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). This was facilitated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) which is the Implementing Agency for this project.

The depletion of the ozone layer is an example of a global problem that requires a global solution. As such, countries around the world came together to agree to phase out the gases that contribute to the destruction of the ozone layer under an agreement known as the Montreal Protocol. Trinidad and Tobago signed on to this agreement in August 1989. 

In October, 2016, there was an amendment to the Montreal Protocol to include other gases, specifically, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), in the list of chemicals for phase out under the Protocol. This was known as the Kigali Amendment. HFCs do not deplete the ozone layer but have considerable global warming potential. Trinidad and Tobago signed on to this Amendment in November 2017 and as such, will be playing an important role in not only addressing ozone depletion but also reducing the release of green house gases.

This project is said to be the first of its kind in the region placing Trinidad and Tobago ahead in implementing provisions under Kigali simultaneously with obligations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. 

Stakeholders at the validation workshop for the GEF project on “Energy Efficiency through the development of Low-carbon RAC Technologies” in Trinidad and Tobago. 

The workshop was held at the Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards, Macoya. Stakeholders who attended this one-day workshop included persons from UNDP Panama Sub Regional Office, UNDP Trinidad and Tobago, Ministry of Planning and Development- National Ozone Unit, Ministry of Energy, Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards, District Energy Venture, Ministry of Energy, Energy Dynamics, the Airport Authority of Trinidad and Tobago and Edan K Properties Limited.

Workshop participants were briefed on how the project’s components and the Global Environment Facility’s (GEF) principles and targets are addressed and how District Cooling targets emission reductions and the adoption of sustainable RAC technologies in Trinidad and Tobago. During execution of this project, barriers to implementation of low carbon RAC technologies are expected to be removed and national policies developed. UNDP’s role is to provide access to risk management, capacity building, project assurance and oversight and provision of best practice from its global network.  

UNDP’s Montreal Protocol and Chemicals Unit has supported projects and assisted 84 countries to manage the chemicals listed under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), 42 countries in assessing their needs and undertaking initial activities under the Minamata Convention on Mercury, and 120 countries in meeting their obligations in the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. Under these projects, 220,000 people have been safeguarded from high-risk POPs exposure, 65 POPs policies and regulations adopted, and 335,000 tonnes of POPs contaminated waste safeguarded. The projects under the Montreal Protocol are helping to eliminate 67,870 tonnes of ozone depleting substances while also reducing 5.08 billion tonnes of CO2-eq greenhouse gas emissions. To learn more about UNDP’s MPU work visit http://undp.org/ozone & http://undp.org/chemicals

Video available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaPONIQ_vEo&feature=youtu.be