Combating climate change while maintaining a stable economy might seem contradictory, as the fact remains that most of the world's most economically viable industries produce high emissions. Farming, which may seem environmentally friendly, still produces 20 per cent of the world’s emissions according to 2020 statistics. The energy used to power the tools we use every day comes at a cost – record-high 37.4 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions recorded in 2023 by the International Energy Agency.
In 2020, TT's total national emissions comprised of 42 per cent energy, five per cent agriculture, five per cent waste and 48 per cent Industrial Processes and Product Use (IPPU). TT's 48 per cent IPPU emission surpassed the six per cent global average. With 22 industrial parks spread across the country, TT’s factories are a key source of greenhouse gas emissions.
However, UTT professor Donnie Boodlal said this is a good thing. Presenting at the Caricom Climate Change Centre seminar on carbon capture and storage (CCS) frameworks, Boodlal said the nature and volume of industrial emissions put TT in a "unique" position to capitalise on CCS.
