My home island of Trinidad and Tobago has been the leading Caribbean producer of oil and gas, with a reputation as an excellent investment site for international businesses. Our main source of revenue has been from the exports of oil and gas. Not only do we produce these oils and gases for international benefits but also for internal use. The primary source for electricity generation and transportation fuel is natural gas. We have relied on fossil fuels for centuries, consequently leading us in the top ten countries in the world with high CO2 emissions. We are responsible for approximately 17.15 tonnes of CO2 gas emission per capita which is nearly obscene. It’s time to put an end to excessive use of fossil fuels to protect the environment and the society. Currently Trinidad and Tobago is using a new compressed natural gas (CNG) which is said to be cleaner, cheaper, and more efficient than the traditional gasoline and diesel for vehicles. The compressed natural gas is environmentally friendly and CO2 emissions can be reduced by as much as 95% in comparison to the gasoline vehicles.
Some alternative sources of energy which have been discussed are wind and solar renewable energy. During a parliament discussion a few months ago about the high electricity consumption in the country, attention was brought to solar farms as a means to convert sunlight directly to electricity. There were oppositions that this alternative would only be beneficial decades from now and the land use requirement is too high. While that may be true to some extent, it’s a great investment. If we want to make changes to help reduce the greenhouse gases emission in the atmosphere we need to start now. The development of a wind farm is another substitute for a cleaner environment. Under the ministry of energy and energy industries this project is being assessed and could possibly be implemented. These present and future plans for a more environmentally friendly country is the beginning of a whole new world.
