Minister of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development, Kennedy Swaratsingh, says there are plans to integrate climate risk into the country’s national and economic development plans. It comes as climate experts yesterday called on officials to focus their efforts on plans to mitigate the impacts of flooding.
In a statement to Guardian Media, Swaratsingh said, “The Government, under the Honourable Kamla Persad-Bissessar, is focused on an economic revitalisation strategy aimed at placing the private sector as the driving engine. Therefore, we understand and are focused on ways to further integrate climate risk into our national and economic development plans, while building more robust policies.”
Swaratsingh said one of the ministry’s main objectives and projects is continuing a landmark US$10 million project aimed at building the climate resilience of the South Oropouche River Basin, “specifically addressing responses to the population and ecosystem to flooding, sea level rise, and expected increase in water deficit events.”
He insisted the nation cannot ignore the accelerated risk of climate change, as he said these risks have life-changing consequences, “especially for a small island developing state like we are in T&T.”
Meanwhile, climate experts have warned there is no overnight solution to T&T’s flooding dilemma and no one administration is to be held responsible.
After a weekend of rainfall which left parts of Trinidad underwater, climate experts Steve Maximay and Kishan Kumarsingh said while the country looks at interim solutions, there must be a long-term plan.
Kumarsingh, who also the heads of the Multilateral Development Unit in the Ministry of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development, called for integrating climate risks in future planning developments. However, both he and Maximay said short-term initiatives are necessary.
Maximay, who is a climate expert and is currently in Panama for Climate Week, told Guardian Media, “It is easy for politicians to point fingers in the same way that we all do, but this is something that has been a long time in coming, and we are all to blame. The fingers cannot be pointed at any one administration because they all failed to deal with climate change.”
As the Wet Season begins, Maximay acknowledged the urgency of finding quick solutions to the flooding to mitigate the impact it has on communities across the country.
“There is no overnight solution. What we can try to do is limit the extent of the damage by taking the necessary steps now. One of the earliest things to do would be to try to cut down the degradation of the hills, clear the existing waterways, enforce the current legislation, stabilise the slopes, and monitor quarrying.”
However, he said with the capital city being at sea level at high tide, there will be flooding.
“Independence Square used to be Marine Square. There’s a reason for that,” Maximay recalled, as he said flooding in some places in T&T, including Caroni, will be inevitable.
He said the country can, however, mitigate the damage that is caused.
Kumarsingh agreed with this, adding, “In the short-term, the laws and policies being effectively implemented would help but climate change is increasing. Even in the short-term, this thing is going to get more and more acute and critical, and therefore, planning for that is critical else we will end up being more reactive.”
Kumarsingh, who is also this country’s lead climate negotiator at international conferences, cited climate models which suggest the intensity of rainfall episodes is going to increase - meaning the country will have more rain in less time which leads to more run-off and more flooding.
