Climate Policy Engagement Analysis
Climate Policy Engagement Overview: Energy Chamber of Trinidad & Tobago (‘the Chamber’) has limited transparent engagement on climate policy. However, it continues to advocate for new investments in fossil fuels in Trinidad & Tobago.
Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: The Chamber has limited recent top-line communications on climate change. The Chamber supported the need to reduce emissions and need for climate regulations in older communications. For example, a blog post from May 2018 supported global efforts to reduce emissions, although it is unclear if the Chamber supports emissions reduction in line with the IPCC recommendations. A blog post from August 2017 appeared to support climate policy, stating the need for “genuine action” to reduce carbon footprint in Trinidad & Tobago.
Engagement with Climate-Related Regulations: InfluenceMap could not find any recent evidence of the Chamber engaging with climate-related regulations.
Positioning on Energy Transition: The Chamber advocates in favor of new fossil fuel investments and production, while appearing to also support the growth of renewables. In a news release from November 2023, the Chamber Chairman, Jerome Dookie emphasized the need for “lobbying for opportunities in the upstream sector.” Similarly, the Chamber President, Thackwray Driver claimed that the group’s advocacy has heavily focused on encouraging fossil gas investments, as per the Annual Report 2022-23, released in October 2023.
The Chamber is supportive of increasing the renewable energy in Trinidad and Tobago. In the Annual Report 2021-22, released in October 2022, President Driver disclosed the Chamber’s advocacy for the introduction of renewable energy into the grid.
This summary was last updated in Q1 2024.