
For Immediate Release
Civil society ready to tackle climate change in 2017
Port
of
Spain,
January 5, 2017 – Five civil society organisations (CSOs) in Trinidad and Tobago are starting 2017 ready to tackle climate change through raising
awareness, advocating for strong policies and action, and implementing practical adaptation projects guided by assessments of what are the key vulnerabilities and priorities for resilience building.
The five CSOs - Caribbean Youth Environment Network Trinidad and Tobago Chapter (CYENTT), Environmental Research Institute Charlotteville (ERIC), Environment Tobago, Fondes Amandes Community
Reforestation Project (FACRP), and Turtle Village Trust (TVT) – have been participating in
the “Climate ACTT: Action by Civil society in Trinidad and Tobago to build resilience to climate change” project which aimed to build the capacity of five CSOs in Trinidad and Tobago to deliver programmes/projects related to climate
change adaptation and resilience. Over the last 16 months, the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) implemented and managed this project in collaboration with Conservation International and with support from BHP Billiton
Trinidad and Tobago.

Representatives from the five beneficiary CSOs,
Conservation International and CANARI
The Climate ACTT project wrapped up in December 2016, with a final evaluation workshop to assess results of the project, facilitate sharing of knowledge and experiences among the beneficiary
CSOs and catalyse partnerships and new initiatives for climate change adaptation and resilience in Trinidad and Tobago.
Overall the Climate ACTT project was found to be a resounding success at enhancing the capacity of the five CSOs to undertake climate adaptation work.
One participant in the final evaluation workshop acknowledged “the sense of something starting as opposed to something ending”. “This was the seed sown for the growth of the big tree” added another participant. All five CSOs felt
energised and ready to expand their work on climate change to help to address the impacts that are already being felt in communities throughout Trinidad and Tobago.
Each CSO had participated in training and implemented a practical adaptation project that laid a foundation for exciting avenues of work moving forward. A few highlights were:
At the evaluation workshop, the CSOs
also engaged with invited partners from government, international agencies and private sector donors for a highly interactive round of group presentations and “speed dating” to discuss potential future areas
of collaboration. Responses from the invited partners included “smitten” and “very proud”, and before leaving they urged the participating CSOs to be proactive in initiating their “second dates” to discuss specific opportunities for collaboration on climate
adaptation initiatives moving forward.
About Climate ACTT: See here for more info on the Climate ACTT project:
http://www.canari.org/climateactt
About
CANARI:
The
Caribbean
Natural Resources
Institute
is
a regional
technical
non-profit
organisation
which
has
been working
in
the
islands
of the
Caribbean
for
more
than
25
years.
Our
mission
is to
promote
equitable
participation
and
effective
collaboration
in
managing
natural resources
critical
to
development.
Our
programmes
focus
on
research,
sharing and
dissemination
of
lessons
learned,
capacity
building
and fostering regional
partnerships.
Connect with us:
For further information, please contact: Nicole Leotaud at CANARI at
[log in to unmask] or call: 1-868-626-6062