Trinidad and Tobago

Map of Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago is an island in the West Indies, close to the continent of South America. In fact, the main island of Trinidad sits just 7 miles off the shore of Venezuela. The country consists of two main islands: Trinidad and its counterpart Tobago, with Trinidad being significantly larger at 1850 square miles in total land area while Tobago sits at just over 100 square miles in area.

The director of Trinidad and Tobago's Meteorological Service, Shakeer Baig, wrote an article to the country's citizens concerning the effects of climate change on developing island nations, as the World Meteorological Service had recently published new information about the effects of climate change around the world. Most importantly, temperature and sea-level rise were accelerating significantly, and Baig thought it was necessary to inform the citizens of these facts before a disaster struck.

The effects of climate change are noticed everywhere in daily life across Trinidad and Tobago. It put the water management system of the country under pressure, and it also led to air quality issues and heat strokes, putting only further pressure on a deteriorating public health system. Recent hurricanes also helped to demonstrate how severe climate change had become. Not only were they strong category 5 hurricanes, but they also lasted for a significantly longer period of time than expected, forcing the country to increase and disseminate knowledge about the issues posed by climate change.

Below are some of the many threats Trinidad and Tobago is facing:

1. Rising Sea Levels: As sea levels rise, erosion becomes a bigger and bigger issue, with land and public infrastructure becoming lost to the sea. Additionally, the dangers of flash flood only increases, affecting food and farming security.

2. Shortfalls in water resources: The lack of rain has only led to further stress on the country's water system

3. Higher Temperatures

4. Human Health: Heart disease and vector and insect-borne diseases are only becoming more common, as worsening air quality also begins to play a role in the health of citizens

5. Agriculture and Food Security: Crop yields are significantly affected by pests, heat, and water scarcity

6. Biodiversity and Marine Ecosystems: Warmer ocean temperatures and forest fires on land are threatening the lives of many animals around the island.

7. Economic Impact: Not only are the workers of Trinidad and Tobago becoming less productive due to the higher temperatures, tourism is also suffering.

   
   

   In conclusion, although Trinidad and Tobago is ramping up efforts to address climate change, the government has made strides in the right direction, although much more needs to be done to protect its vulnerable communities.

1. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (2025, July 1). Trinidad and Tobago. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Trinidad-and-Tobago

2. Newsday. (2024, October 14). Climate-change threat: A wake-up call for Trinidad and Tobago. Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. https://newsday.co.tt/2024/10/14/climate-change-threat-a-wake-up-call-for-trinidad-and-tobago/

3. Spruce, T. (2023, November 24). 10 Tobago facts we bet you’re hearing for the first time. Blue Bay Travel Blog. https://bluebaytravel.co.uk/blog/2023/09/tobago-facts/