The Action by Civil Society in Trinidad and Tobago to Build Resilience to Climate Change Programme officially concluded with a formal closing event at BHP Trinidad and Tobago’s head office in Port of Spain. The Company invested US$660,000 in the initiative as part of its global focus on climate change and an overall commitment to environmental preservation and the protection of community livelihoods.

Following the launch in August 2015, implementation of the program was led by BHP Trinidad and Tobago, in partnership with regional NGO, the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) and globally recognised leader in environmental protection, Conservation International. The primary focus was on building the institutional expertise of five civil society groups over 18 months.

The five Civil Society Groups that participated were: the Environmental Research Institute of Charlotteville (ERIC), Environment Tobago, the Turtle Village Trust, the Caribbean Youth Environment Network Trinidad and Tobago Chapter (CYEN T&T) and the Fondes Amandes Community Re-forestation Project. In addition to receiving training and mentoring, the five groups implemented climate change adaptation projects geared towards communities that are particularly vulnerable to the physical impacts of climate change in Trinidad and Tobago.

Over one hundred people attended the event and had the opportunity to visit interactive booths at the event where each Civil Society Group showcased their work from the programme.

Vincent Pereira, General Manager, Trinidad and Tobago PU, congratulated the groups on their respective projects and pledged the company’s continued support for initiatives which promote environmental awareness and protection in Trinidad and Tobago.

"We are proud to be a part of what we consider to be a ground-breaking initiative," said Vincent. "We believe that this was a unique opportunity for a cross-section of organizations to come together, through meaningful partnership, for the purpose of addressing the emerging critical issue of climate change in Trinidad and Tobago."

In his Special Remarks at the event, Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, the Honourable Clarence Rambharat said "Capability building must, in its most basic form, involve the development of our capacity to change. Beyond protection, we need to build our capacity to prepare for change. It is the type of transformative work that is natural to BHP's DNA. My call to BHP is to continue to exercise a protective role in relation to matters of the environment."