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DE RUEHSP #0550/01 3371241
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 021241Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9553
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUEHDG/AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO 2638
RUEHSJ/AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE 0500
RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT OF SPAIN 000550 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/EPSC, WHA/CAR, OES/EGC 
STATE PASS USTR FOR KENT SHIGETOMI 
SAN JOSE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HUB 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SENV ECON EINV ETRD TD
 
SUBJECT: T&T ENVIRONMENTAL LEADER CALLS FOR BALANCED DEVELOPMENT 
 
REF: PORT OF SPAIN 358 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PROTECT ACCORDINGLY 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Environmental expert Dr. John Agard, in recent 
remarks, called for a greater balance between economic development, 
environmental safety and a healthy society.  He praised the 
increased transparency and public engagement stemming from 
environmental legislation passed in 2000-2001, but bemoaned a lack 
of subsequent progress on new environmental rules.  Agard also 
voiced frustration over the absence of "easy" incentives for 
recycling and renewable energy and encouraged consumers to be 
proactive in promoting sustainable development. END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (U) Dr. John Agard, former Chairman of T&T's Environmental 
Management Authority (EMA) and a member of the international group 
that produced the Fourth Assessment Report of the Inter-Governmental 
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), commented on the state of T&T 
environmental regulation during a November 5 conference on 
globalization organized by the American Chamber of Commerce.  The 
event was attended by business leaders and students and well covered 
in the press.  Agard used the conference as an opportunity to lay 
out his environmental vision for Trinidad. 
 
Development should be balanced, not limited 
------------------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (U) Agard emphasized the need to lessen economic and social 
pressures on the environment in order to preserve T&T's natural 
resources and quality of life.  The argument that strong 
environmental regulation would stop development is false, though. 
Far from being a hindrance to growth, Agard stated regulation could 
lessen the hidden environmental and social costs of needed 
industrial development. 
 
Three approaches to managing environmental impact 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
¶4. (U) Command and control, economic incentives, and corporate 
responsibility may lessen negative environmental impacts in T&T, 
according to Agard.  To date, the GOTT approach to the environment 
has emphasized command and control, which entails significant 
enforcement challenges. 
 
¶5. (U) Explaining further, Agard related that prior to the year 
2000, environmental regulation consisted of a "myriad of useless 
laws" accompanied by "miniscule" fines. In 2000, T&T enacted the 
Environmental Management Act and in 2002 began requiring listed 
types of projects to obtain a Certificate of Environmental Clearance 
(CEC) from the EMA through a process involving substantial public 
consultation.  Also in 2001, the GOTT adopted rules on noise, 
environmentally sensitive areas, and environmentally sensitive 
species.  That same year, the EMA tabled water rules which, 
according to Agard, the GOTT resisted until a court decision brought 
them into effect in 2007.  Agard observed, however, that no further 
environmental laws have been passed in T&T in the last 5 years, 
while rules for air pollution and solid waste have been drafted but 
not yet adopted. While not taking a stand on specific projects, 
Agard said public consultations under the Environmental Management 
Act have helped empower environmentalists and others with the 
information needed to challenge EMA decisions in court, such as the 
decision to grant a CEC to the Alutrint aluminum smelter. (Note: 
Alutrint is 60% owned by GOTT and 40% owned by Venezuela's Sural. 
The government of China provided USD 400 Million to finance the 
project's construction by a Chinese contractor. Alutrint plans to 
produce aluminum for local downstream industries as well as auto 
manufacturers. End note.) 
 
¶6. (U) Agard called on the GOTT to complement its command and 
control approach with tax breaks for businesses who adopt 
environmentally responsible practices, and economic incentives for 
recycling of glass bottles and used tires. He voiced frustration at 
the recent announcement that the GOTT has decided to abandon a draft 
bottle bill that has been in the works for years.  He encouraged 
AmCham to advocate for these measures. Corporations in T&T should 
pursue a "triple bottom line," including profit, contributions to 
society, and positive impacts on the environment. 
 
¶7. (U) Agard also called on private industry, as well as the GOTT, 
to pursue renewable forms of energy. Since GOTT is receiving record 
levels of income from the oil and gas industry, now is the time to 
invest in renewable energy technology.  T&T's oil and gas will run 
out eventually.  T&T should capitalize on its abundant solar and 
wind resources. (Note:  The GOTT's FY-2009 budget includes 
 
PORT OF SP 00000550  002 OF 002 
 
 
incentives for drivers to equip their vehicles with compressed 
natural gas tanks to reduce gasoline consumption.  The budget also 
increased the price of premium gasoline, and GOTT has subsequently 
floated a proposal to end the fuel subsidy by 2011. End Note) 
 
Public pressure is Key 
---------------------- 
 
¶8. (U) Agard asked for those in attendance to exert pressure on 
private companies and the government. As consumers and voters they 
can participate in reducing negative impacts on the environment. 
After his speech, Agard took questions from local high school 
students. These focused on the proposed Alutrint smelter project and 
renewable energy. Agard again stressed the importance of not 
limiting development but instead finding a healthy balance. He 
emphasized the value of a positive environmental and social state 
and encouraged those in attendance to consider quality of life in 
addition to GDP per capita when evaluating the success of T&T. 
 
¶9. (SBU) Conference attendees expressed dissatisfaction with the 
government's ability to achieve a balance between economic 
development, environmental safety, and a healthy society. Several 
attendees called for greater agricultural production to alleviate 
high food prices, and a decrease in industrial projects (e.g., 
Alutrint) to protect the environment. Agard stressed that 
responsible economic and industrial development is possible with a 
balanced strategy and active public participation. 
 
Comment: A Voice of Moderation 
------------------------------ 
 
¶10. (SBU) In recent years, the debate over sustainable development 
here has pitted the GOTT and foreign investors against a homegrown 
anti-globalization-style opposition to new industrial projects. 
Agard's is a voice of moderation in this polarized atmosphere, and 
his participation in the Nobel Prize-winning IPCC gives his views 
some weight in T&T.  With the GOTT grappling with environmental 
issues in international fora, including in its role as host of the 
upcoming Summit of the Americas and the Commonwealth Heads of 
Government Meeting, Agard's comments underscore that domestic 
environmental policy is lagging. 
 
KUSNITZ