UN Trinidad and Tobago stands prepared to assist Govt. with potential oil spill in Gulf of Paria
UN Resident Coordinator to T&T extended this offer to Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs during a meeting at his ministry in St. Clair on Wednesday.
Should there be an environmental emergency in the Gulf of Paria, the United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator has affirmed the UN’s readiness to provide response support to the Government of Trinidad and Tobago.
UN Resident Coordinator to Trinidad and Tobago, Marina Walter, extended this offer to Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, Senator the Honourable Dr. Amery Browne, during a meeting at his ministry in St. Clair on Wednesday.
This was their first meeting since Minister Browne took office in August.
Ms. Walter articulated the UN’s commitment to make available the resources of the UN’s Joint Environment Unit (JEU), should Trinidad and Tobago be affected by a potential oil spill in the Gulf of Paria.
The JEU has the capacity to assist with situation assessments during environmental disasters, by providing on-site or remote support.
“We remain on stand-by for any support the Government of Trinidad and Tobago might need,” Ms. Walter said.
Ms. Walter also reiterated the invitation to Trinidad and Tobago to participate in the upcoming Climate Summit co-hosted by the United Kingdom, France and the United Nations
The summit, scheduled for December 12, coincides with the 5th anniversary of the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement. This summit is critical to realigning progress on the commitment to limit global temperature increases to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels.
Ms. Walter commended Trinidad and Tobago’s advocacy for the needs of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) affected by climate change.
“The UN continues to offer a very important platform for the voice of SIDS to influence the climate debate and agreements that have a disproportionate impact on SIDS,” Ms. Walter said.
Minister Browne and Ms. Walter also discussed their mutual interest in widening the scope of the UN’s outreach to young people in Trinidad and Tobago, to champion the importance of this country’s efforts toward achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
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