Breathing Uneasy: Air Quality and the Climate Crossroads in T&T

Breathing Uneasy: Air Quality and the Climate Crossroads in Trinidad and Tobago

By UNDP Resident Representative for Trinidad and Tobago, Ugo Blanco and PAHO/WHO Representative for Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Gabriel Vivas Francesconi

A staggering 600 premature deaths of persons ages 30 years and over could be averted annually in Trinidad and Tobago if there is stronger alignment to World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guidelines, according to a 2022 scientific assessment report by the Pan-American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC).

Derived using nationally-available mortality data from 2019 and the WHO’s AirQ+ tool, these findings underscore the urgent public health imperative to reduce air pollutants and mitigate the impact of short-lived climate pollutants on the well-being of the population. 

As Trinidad and Tobago grapples with the escalating impacts of climate change, air quality has become both a symbol and symptom of broader environmental stress. Indeed, clean air is both a climate imperative and a human right.

Despite its size, Trinidad and Tobago is one of the Caribbean’s highest per capita greenhouse gas emitters, due to its fossil-fuel-based economy. The consequences include deteriorating air quality, rising public health risks and strain on ecosystems.

Urban centres face compounding impacts from vehicular emissions, industrial pollutants and the urban heat-island effect, all of which degrade air quality. This produces an elevated risk of respiratory illness, cardiovascular disease and premature death—especially among children, the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions. In cities like Port of Spain and San Fernando, where emissions converge, vulnerable groups face elevated exposure. Air quality is therefore a matter of environmental justice.

The road ahead is steep, but there are tangible opportunities for improvement. Trinidad and Tobago’s strong collaboration with the United Nations system of agencies, funds and programmes is already strengthening national policies, innovating progress in the clean energy transition and building national capacity to mobilise local solutions.

Working with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and international partners, the government has mobilised over US $21 million in grant funding for climate mitigation, renewable energy, biodiversity conservation and disaster risk reduction. Projects range from solar installations to district cooling, reflecting a national shift toward sustainability.

Simultaneously, another UN agency, PAHO/WHO, has created a cross-sectoral network to integrate policy reform and capacity-building. In partnership with the Ministry of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development, through the Environmental Management Authority (EMA), PAHO/WHO made recommendations for updates on national air pollution rules, laying the groundwork for stronger enforcement. Through the Healthy Cities initiative, the Ministry of Health (MOH), EMA and PAHO/WHO engaged mayors and regional leaders in developing municipal climate strategies, while PAHO/WHO workshops trained public health inspectors from the MOH.

The UNDP’s Energy Efficiency in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (RAC) Sector project, which replaces high-global-warming-potential refrigerants with cleaner alternatives, reduces both emissions and energy use, easing pressure on the national grid. Its complementary Digital Tools in Cooling project pilots smart technologies to monitor public sector air conditioning systems, cutting emissions and energy waste – critical in tropical climates. Transport reform is also underway, with feasibility studies and policies advancing electric mobility. Cleaner transit options are essential in urban hubs like Port of Spain, Chaguanas and Scarborough.

A potentially transformative effort is the upcoming UNDP Integrated Net-Zero Nature-Positive Cities project. This four-year programme will reimagine urban spaces through green corridors, low-emission transport and nature-positive infrastructure—improving air quality and overall well-being.

These efforts are about more than meeting climate targets—they are about protecting people. While foundations are strong, success depends on political will and public engagement. Cleaner air is not just a technical issue—it’s a societal one. That’s why citizens must be equipped to act: to minimise engine idling, support renewable energy and advocate for green urban planning.

Public health starts with public knowledge. Public education campaigns like those in the UNDP GCCA+ Renewable Energy project are essential to shifting behaviour. 

But knowledge must be matched with access. Incentives for clean technology, better public transport and transparent data are critical. PAHO/WHO’s support for real-time air quality dashboards via the MOH and EMA furthers this goal, empowering citizens with actionable information. A national surveillance system linking air and health data—disaggregated by region, age and exposure—would strengthen policymaking and empower communities to demand cleaner environments.

With technical expertise, strong partnerships with the UN and early WHO guideline adoption, Trinidad and Tobago is positioned to lead the Caribbean in air quality governance. By investing in data, education and municipal action, the country can set a regional benchmark for clean air and resilience.

As the country prepares its next Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement, deepens its alignment with the Global Biodiversity Framework and makes strides toward a net-zero, nature-positive future, air quality must remain a central focus. In 2025, we have the opportunity—and the responsibility—to ensure that every breath we take moves us closer to a healthier, more resilient nation.

Editor's note: This World Environment Day op-ed first appeared in the Trinidad Express and the Trinidad and Tobago Newsday.