21 September 2016
Why is adaptation needed?
As a twin island state, Trinidad and Tobago is vulnerable to effects of global climate change including increasing storm intensity, coastal erosion, coral bleaching and changes in precipitation. These impacts can, in turn, affect local livelihoods. Adapting to a changing climate and building economic, social and environmental resilience are critical.
Who is involved and what is the objective?
In October 2015, BHP Billiton Trinidad and Tobago, in partnership with Conservation International (CI) and the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI), launched the Action by Civil society in Trinidad and Tobago to build resilience to climate change (Climate ACTT) program.
The program objective is to help address a common challenge in adaptation – building capacity of civil society to access funding and implement adaptation actions.
The goal of the Climate ACTT project is to empower a selection of civil society organisations in Trinidad and Tobago with rigorous and transparent institutional processes and up-to-date technical best practices for climate change adaptation and resilience planning.
The five participating organisations are:
- Environmental Research Institute Charlotteville;
- Environment Tobago;
- Turtle Village Trust;
- Caribbean Youth Environment Network Trinidad and Tobago Chapter;
- Fondes Amandes Community Reforestation Project.
The program
The program, implemented by CANARI, with support from CI, began with participatory needs assessments and work planning for each individual organisation. In a collective workshop in March 2016, the participating organisations began creating strategies to effectively communicate about climate change and examine how climate change fits within their missions and programming.
A follow-up workshop in April 2016 delivered methodologies to assess vulnerability and plan adaptation actions.
In parallel to the technical training aspects, CANARI is providing one-on-one coaching to each organisation to strengthen governance and management.
The outcome
Ultimately, each organisation will create and implement three-month practical adaptation program in the communities or sectors where they work. The Climate ACTT project will conclude in December 2016. The outcomes will include a civil society toolkit for climate change adaptation, comprising a collection of capacity building materials and mini case studies on the practical adaptation projects.
Building capacity for climate change adaptation in Trinidad and Tobago (PDF 182 kb)
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