National Environmental Policy

The goal of the National Environmental Policy is environmentally sustainable development, meaning the balance of economic growth with environmentally sound practices in order to enhance the quality of life and meet the needs of present and future generations. The specific objectives of the Policy are to: Prevent, reduce or where possible recycle all forms of pollution to ensure adequate protection of the environment and consequently the health and well-being of humans; Conserve the vitality and diversity of the natural environment through the conservation of ecological systems and the biodiversity within; Develop within the carrying capacity (the assimilative capacity of the environment) of the country through national physical development and planning; and the sustainable use of renewable resources and the conservation of non-renewable resources; Change attitudes and practices of citizens with a view to reducing the polluting practices of the public; Ensure that all industries install a certified Environmental Management System; Empower stakeholders, including communities, to care for their own environments by providing opportunities to share in managing their local resources and the right to participate in decision-making; Promote the integration of the principles of environmental sustainable development into all national policies and programmes.
The Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago recognises that the biological heritage of these islands, its animals, plants, terrestrial and marine ecosystems are an important, irreplaceable endowment for the people of Trinidad and Tobago, and that the sustainable development and long term prosperity of the nation is dependent upon the conservation and wise use of these biological asset.
Moreover, the Government recognizes the link between poverty reduction and hunger and environmental sustainability. The economically challenged in society have a direct dependence on ecosystem services in order to be adequately nourished and have access to clean air and water. When eco-systems are degraded, the economically challenged therefore suffer.
Further, a number of natural occurrences, as well as industrial accidents and spills impact on human health and the environment. Government policy is to ensure the health and safety of the population and the environment through: development of measures to prevent occurrences of environmental incidents e.g. fail-safe systems and early-warning systems, inspection and maintenance programmes and operating procedures;Assessment of risks, using methodologies appropriate for small island states in order to estimate the emergency response demands;Establishment and effective implementation of pre-emergency contingency plans with clearly defined roles and responsibilities of the required public and private sector inputs of the country or countries involved;Development of post-emergency response systems including containment of chemical spills or discharges, and remediation of contaminated sites and disturbed sites;Provision of a natural disaster vulnerability assessment in land transfer transactions.
Regarding the implementation of the policy, Without knowledge, there can be no (perceived) environmental problem, no public awareness and, consequently, no policy implementation. Knowledge is, therefore, the key factor in any effort to promote policy, and knowledge of environmental dangers is the cornerstone of public awareness. Government will ensure that everyone has access to all information required for rational and balanced decision-making. The Government will determine the permissibility of the activity, set the condition for polluters, and supervise compliance with the conditions.