Caribbean Green Infrastructure Conference 2022

Caribbean Green Infastructure Conference 2022 Website Banner 2022-10-07

Caribbean Green Infrastructure Conference (CGIC) 2022

IAMovement and The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited are proud to present the Inaugural Event Caribbean Green Infrastructure Conference 2022.

The Hybrid on-and-offline 2-day event took place physically in Trinidad & Tobago from October 25th – 26th 2022, with fully available online streaming and interactivity to facilitate participation from stakeholders across the Caribbean and Latin American regions and beyond. Online participation was FREE while in-person participation entailed a full Conference Day-1 Event at the Hilton Hotel and Conference Centre in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, followed by a blended Day-2 event entailing online panel sessions, and in-person green expo and site visits in the afternoon. for Virtual on In-Person partipation in the Caribbean Green Infrastructure Conference 2022. The #CGIC2022 Conference Brief may be downloaded here, and further event summary information can be found lower down on this page.

View the CGIC Session Recordings

Conference Summary

Speakers, Panel Sessions & Booth Displays included:

Technical introductions and discussions around Green Infrastructure Approaches being used already or available to the Caribbean
Innovative Forms of Green and Climate Finance which may be explored
Opportunities to access local and regional funding
Introductions for Interested Climate Financiers to regional Green Infrastructure Projects and Models which can be explored for Investment to Scale

The forum specifically hopes to introduce attendees to the uses and applications of green infrastructure technologies; quickly build interest and capacity through shared technical knowledge and technical applications; and create a unique, rich environment for networking and sharing of information related to green infrastructure Technologies, and financing mechanism opportunities locally and regionally.

Lead Partners

IAMovement

IAMovement has been working alongside partners in T&T and the Caribbean for over the past six (6) years towards the promotion and use of the Vetiver System (VS) solutions as a green infrastructure tool in a myriad of applications for treating with a suite of climate-related development challenges; which have included unique collaborations and developments working with Government and private sector. Through IAMovement’s IDB Lab supported Building on Vetiver! (BOV) Project there are 100+ benefitting companies and 30+ strong partnerships in the Caribbean showing support toward Green Infrastructure including stakeholders from private and commercial sectors, academia, NGOs, and key Government Ministries and Regional Corporations.

The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (NGC)

NGC has been at the fore of the local energy industry for over 45 years playing a leading role in driving and advocating for the sustainable energy transition, based on their recognition of this holding some of the greatest potential social, economic and environmental benefits for T&T. In addition NGC has led key conservation and reforestation efforts through their ‘No Net Lost’ initiative which they commenced in 2005 which has resulted in 100,000 seedlings planted in Rousillac, Moruga, Mayaro and Rio Claro. Through this initiative NGC has seen more than 38,000 tonnes of carbon sequestered as of 2021. NGC also recognizes that green infrastructure approaches will have an important role to play in this, such as landscape regeneration and reforestation, Vetiver System (VS) approaches, organic waste transformation and composting, and mangroves to name a few – since these all assist with sequestering both above and below-ground carbon, help avoid emissions through reduced need for carbon-heavy steel and concrete, and also build climate resilience for vulnerable communities and society at large.

What to Expect

The hybrid forum will serve as a space for the sharing of technical knowledge and opportunities for widescale adoption and scaling of green infrastructure across the region.

The successes of VS as a green infrastructure solution achieved through the BOV project will serve as one example among many; introducing technical guidelines to core governmental stakeholders in the Planning and Infrastructure Ministries; while also providing parallel technical reports, academic studies, panel discussions and technical Insights by international experts on Green Infrastructure initiatives and Green Finance mechanisms.

While the Vetiver System (VS) is presented as a case study for uptake of green infrastructure, the forum itself will feature international experts from key regional and global partners able to provide technical insights to local and regional decision-making toward investment into green infrastructure technologies with discussions on the return on investment (ROI) of such approaches, through ecosystem service value and cost-savings in contrast to traditional hard-engineered solutions.

Conference Speakers

Pennelope Beckles-Robinson

Minister of Planning and Development

Rohan Sinanan

Minister of Works and Transport

Carina Cockburn

Country Head IDB Trinidad and Tobago

Will Sarni

Founder and CEO Water Foundry

Lizzie Marsters

Environmental Finance Manager Natural Infrastructure World Resources Institute (WRI)

Alfred Hans Grunwaldt

Climate Lead Specialist, Infrastructure Department, IDB

Yorleny Cruz

Director for The Vetiver Network International (TVNI), Costa Rica

Ian McNeel

Co-Founder, Slow Food Barbados

Una May Gordon

Senior Environment & Climate Change Expert

Ulrike Krauss

Program Manager Climate Change Program Caribbean Biodiversity Fund

Vashtie Dookiesingh

Private Finance Operations Lead Specialist, IDB Lab

Axel Kravatzky

Managing Partner, Syntegra-ESG

Zé Alves-Pereira

Green Diplomacy Delegation of the European Union to Trinidad & Tobago

Michael McQuilkin

CFA Charterholder and Geologist

Rheanna Chen

Ecologist

Ramesh Harrylal

Vice President Operations at The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited

Tracey A Weekes

Manager, Financial & Strategic Investments at The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited

Gina Sanguinetti Phillips

Consultant, CCRIF SPC

Vandana Mangroo

Founder Hello Green Ltd

Jonathan Barcant

Technical Director and Chairman IAMovement

Damian Siqueiros

Multidisciplinary Artist, Terra Sapiens

Ardene Sirjoo

Co-Founder and Director, Trini Good Media

Omar Mohammed

CEO, The Cropper Foundation

Anaitee Mills

Sustainable Development Expert

Agenda

Partners and Sponsors

Lead Partners

Platinum Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

Community Partners

Network Partners

A few words from Our Sponsors

NGC continues to advocate for sustainable practices in all areas of social, corporate and personal endeavors in support of the growing recognition that businesses, governments, society, and individuals, need to pay close attention to sustainability as a burgeoning field of learning and practice. Sustainability provides us with powerful ways of thinking, and tools to help us navigate an increasingly complex and uncertain world. Sustainability can help us in identify opportunities to thrive in a hotter, scarcer, more open world. Each of us can do our part to make a positive impact”.

At Republic Bank, we are taking purposeful steps to be internal leaders when it comes to Sustainability in Banking.

Our strategy is to develop responsible and innovative financial products to meet the needs of our communities, streamline our operations and identify positive impact areas that align with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

IDB continues to promote sustainability and development of the Caribbean islands especially as it relates to climate change mitigation and strategies. We see the importance of being a part of this conference as a signal to embracing this movement. – Carina Cockburn, IDB Country Representative Trinidad and Tobago.

The Unit Trust Corporation proudly supports the benefits of Green Infrastructure Technologies through the exploration of viable options to help reduce our environmental footprint.

By working with key stakeholders and scrutinizing green financing mechanisms, this forum can enhance the conversation.

More than ever, regional and national awareness is needed to help engineer a sustainable future.

Aegis is pleased to support IAMovement and The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited efforts in raising awareness in the uses and applications of green infrastructure technologies, particularly what is already available in the Caribbean. We must continue to pursue sustainable energy and begin to apply what is possible.” – Angela Lee Loy, Chairman

Looking at the impact of climate change around the world, the Massy Foundation has recognized the urgent need for movement beyond sustainable development into regenerative development. Partnering in the discussion that leads to interest and investment in Green Infrastructure in the Caribbean is therefore a natural step for us to take.