62
SessionS509 A Green Economy for the Caribbean 404AB - LACC 04/15/2012 04:00 PM - 05:15
SessionS509
A Green Economy for the Caribbean
404AB - LACC
04/15/2012
04:00 PM - 05:15
Presenters
Asad Mohammed Ph,D Director, Caribbean Network on Urban & Land Management, University of the West Indies, Trinidad & Tobago, [email protected]
Carol Archer Ph.D, Dean, Faculty of the Built Environment, University of Technology, Jamaica, [email protected]
Margaret McDowall, Vice-President, Trinidad & Tobago Society of Planners, [email protected]
Moderator: Michel Frojmovic, MCIP RPP PMP, International Projects, Canadian institute of Planners, [email protected]
Study purpose
Map of the Caribbean
The English Speaking Caribbean have a similar history and administrative structure
•Centralized management of the economy
•Planning confined mainly to Development Control
•Structured, Development Plans that take long to create and are irrelevant soon after they are approved.
CLIMATE CHANGE? THE GREEN ECONOMY?
OVER THE PAST DECADE MOST CARIBBEAN COUNTRIES HAVE BEEN OBSERVING THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
BARBADOS CAN BE VIEWED AS THE LEADER IN POSITIVE CHANGE.
TRINIDAD IS LAGGING BECAUSE OF BEING AN ENERGY RICH COUNTRY.
Climate Change effects are for the poor!?
The Forgotten Coast of Port of Spain
A Stones throw from the New Waterfront
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO’S ECONOMY IS COMPLETELY
DOMINATED BY ITS ENERGY SECTOR
SUBSIDISED FUEL LOW ELECTRICITY COSTS
LOW TRANSPORTATION COSTS DIFFICULT TO SENSITIZE THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO
CONSERVE, RECYCLE, REUSE
Clear Need to Reduce Subsidy on Fuel, Private Car Use, Urban Sprawl, Dominance of the Capital City
but… Political/Economic Implications.
Present Position
Obvious Effects of Climate Change
• Change in weather patterns – flooding, landslips
• Coastal Erosion of North, Eastern and Southern Coasts
-
The Strategy Focus on Changing Lifestyle and Supporting the ‘Green Economy’
“A Green Economy is a new approach to economic and social growth embracing ecological and eco‐friendly principles and guidelines that will lead towards sustainable livelihood practices and development at community, national and
regional levels.”
(Definition of a Green Economy at the Caribbean New Economy
Dialogue, February 2011)
Some Mechanisms • The Green Fund
• The Planning and Land Administration Bill
• Strategic Spatial Planning
• Integrated Planning
• Decentralization via Municipal Development Plans
• Expansion of the Non-Energy Sector
• Public Transport, Housing Initiatives
• Involvement of Civil Society and NGO’s – local and International
The Green Fund
• Established in 1999 as a tax on all Businesses of .02% of Gross Revenue
• Supposed to enable grants to Community groups involved in remediation, reforestation, environment conservation, beautification and reuse/recycle projects.
• TT$ 2.3 Billion (US$ 360 Million) collected between 2000-2010
• Only TT$ 12 Million (US$ 1.9 Million) spent on three projects.
• New Thrust to get Communities involved through the Ministry of Local Government.
Planning and Land Administration Bill (PADL)
• Task Force created and Draft of the Bill is now ready to go to Cabinet and on to Parliament.
• Task Force and its subcommittees – Development Control, Development Planning and Legislative are dominated by Spatial Planners
• Will support comprehensive planning of Human Settlement and Economic Development
• Reduce the Concentration on Development Control and change to Strategic Policy Making
Strategic Spatial Planning
• PADL enables a change in direction from traditional National Development Planning to strategic and focused planning – short and medium term.
• First start in that direction – Spatial Analysis and Harmonization Consultancies have been awarded – both attempting to pull all existing plans and information into a framework to commence a National Strategic Plan
Integrated Planning
• PADL was drafted using integrated teams of Spatial Planners as well as professionals from the Legal, Financial, Engineering, Economic an Social Disciplines.
• Need now for more Marketing of this approach and to get the population involved and supportive
Decentralization
• Municipal Development Plans have been created for each Corporation.
• These will stimulate local economic development that will promote decentralization.
• Municipal Investment Plans to facilitate the creation of Local economies
Expansion of the Non-Energy Sector
• Tourism – Concentration of eco, cultural, historical, event activities for local, regional and international visitors from non traditional sources
• Film, Fashion and Food
• New Technology
• Printing and Packaging
• Small Manufacturing
Alternate Energy Sources/Conservation/Recycling
Solar Project in Tobago Informal Scrap Metal Recycling at the Dumps
Improvement of Public Transportation/Sustainable Housing
Programmes • These Initiatives have the most potential of
positive impact
• However not sufficient concentration on these areas.
• Some public transportation mechanisms – Water Taxi and Luxury Coaches have brought a new customer but this needs to be expanded and further subsidized until this industry develops.
• Housing still focusing on single family outpost development.
Involvement of NGO’s, Civil Society
• The Network of Civil Society Organisations is well established.
• The Joint Consultative Council of the Construction Industry – TTSP is an active member,
• Fondes Amandes Community Reafforestation Group is a good example of how change can be effected
Site Visit to the Reafforestation Project
Caribbean and Regional Integration
• Trinidad is moving towards an integrationist stance rather than isolationist.
• Planners heavily involved in Canari, Green Economy Coalition, CPA, Green Space, Caricom to name a few
• Also working with CIDA, UNDP, APA, CPI, CAP etc.
Learning together and from each other
Planners need to be Political,
Pro-active, Network- Oriented
a Negotiator Use all Resources available
The Municipal Development Plans are Making a difference
So there’s Hope
Capacity Building and Professional Planning Practice in the Caribbean
The Caribbean Network for Urban and Land Management (CNULM)
The CNULM was formed in 2007
Vision
To enhance the relationship between people, land and urban areas through collaborative multi-stakeholder approaches that support social equity, environmental justice and improved livelihoods in the Caribbean.
Mission
To provide a networking mechanism that brings together people, organizations, and institutions committed to enriching urban and land management processes in the Caribbean through regional dialogue, knowledge management and capacity building.
CNULM Partners and Collaborators
Educational Institutions
University of the West Indies
University of Technology
University of Guyana
Anton de Kom University of Suriname
University of Amsterdam
Artesis University of Antwerp, Belgium.
Multilateral Institutions
UN-HABITAT
IDB - Inter-American Development Bank
CARICOM – Caribbean Community and Common Market
EU/ACP – European Union /Africa Caribbean and Pacific States
CIDA – Canadian International Development Agency
International Networks
GLTN - Global Land Tool Network
ILC – International Land Coalition
CALGA – Caribbean Association of Local Government Authorities
Professional Planning Organizations
APA
CIP / API – Canadian Institute of Planners / Atlantic Planning Institute
Trinidad and Tobago Society of Planners
Jamaica Institute of Planners
Barbados Town and Country Planning Society
CAP – Commonwealth Association of Planners
CNULM Stakeholder Engagement Process
Technical Advisory Group Meetings
Annual policy meeting
CNULM Operating Pillars The projects undertaken by the blueSpace Secretariat are based on four pillars:
1. Capacity Building - Building the capacity of the institutions involved in urban planning and land management by enhancing the skill set of their human resources.
2. Knowledge Management - Sharing the theoretical and technological knowledge necessary to provide an adapted response to the challenges within the Caribbean urban and land sectors.
3. Urban Assessments - Developing the tools required to appropriately identify and assess various issues within Caribbean cites, so as to develop suitable interventions.
4. Networking - Consolidating an extended network of researchers, planners, and policy makers, by instituting mechanisms for communication and consultation.
CNULM Projects
Early Projects
Project Objectives Outputs
EDULINK To strengthen the technical
capacity of urban planning
practitioners in the southern
Caribbean to deal with issues
related to urbanisation and
globalisation
The establishment of a one year
joint post-graduate urban
planning programme between
the university of Guyana and
the University of Suriname.
PSUP – Participatory Slum
Upgrading Programme
(Phase I)
To contribute to global poverty
reduction and attaining the
millennium development goals.
The creation of urban profiles
for cities and towns in Jamaica,
Haiti, Antigua and Trinidad and
Tobago.
Current Projects
Project Objectives Outputs NSUS – Network for the application of
STI to the Urban Sector
To identify research and technologies relevant
to the urban sector and foster their uptake by
local, national and regional authorities.
A research agenda for the Caribbean
urban sector.
Technical working papers
Inventory of urban planning resources in
the Caribbean.
East Port of Spain (EPOS) Heritage
City Initiative
To develop and initiate a community driven
strategic vision for the development of East
Port of Spain, and build capacity within the
community for project management and
implementation.
Integrated strategic vision document
Programme and project proposals
Implementation Mechanisms
CPA - Caribbean Planners Association To enhance professional planning practice and
advance the interest of planners in the
Caribbean
Enhanced professional planning
capacity in the Caribbean.
IDB – Sustainable Emerging Cities
Platform.
To identify sustainability issues and solutions
for the city of Port of Spain.
To create an action plan to prioritise
programmes and projects and develop a
monitoring system to track progress
with implementation.
LEADHER (Haiti) To review the human resource and training
issues in urban and settlement planning in
Haiti and re-establish the delivery of a
previous M.Sc. in urban planning.
Project development workshop
UN-Habitat : Supporting the OECS
to Improve Land Policies & Mgnt
To promote sustainable development in the
OECS through the formulation and adaptation
of comprehensive land policies.
Improved land records
Enhance d national land policies
Caribbean Urban Agenda
Regional Implications
Implications for international / hemispheric collaborations
Professional Support for the Caribbean Urban Agenda
CNULM Caribbean Professional Planners Survey
Objectives:
To provide input in to the development of a regional planning association and a professional planners directory.
To galvanise the support of planners for regional policy issues such as the Caribbean Urban Agenda and Green Urban Economy
Methodology:
Planners were identified via national planning associations and snow-balling .
Questionnaires were administered electronically - online form and by e-mail.
No Definitive Sample Size: On-going survey which seek to capture as many participants as possible.
Professional Planners Directory
Major Findings
Main Needs Identified
Certification and licensing of planners
Continuous Professional Development
Mechanisms for data and Knowledge Sharing
Mentorship of Young Planners
Guiding Principles for Certifying Planners
Buy-in From Governments within the Region.
A rigorous assessment of what constitutes appropriate qualifications and practice as this is not standard or easily defined.
Standardization through regional professional exams.
Transparency, accountability and integrity fashioned by a code of ethics.
Mentorship training for young planners.
Areas of Emphasis for Continuous Professional Development
Operational Challenges Facing Planners
Systemic Challenges
Politics – Pressure to approve plans for financial gain.
A silo or sectoral approach to planning as opposed to an integrated approach
Ambiguity surrounding the role of planners in the development process
Weak project implementation
Poor data management and knowledge sharing
Ethical Challenges
Corruption – bribery and kick back for planning / building approval, a lack of transparency and equity in the awards of contracts to both developers and consultants.
Professional Integrity / Conflict of Interest – Public officers working for private clients
Regulatory Challenges
Lack of professional representation
The need for certification and licensing of planners
Key Benefits Expected From a Regional Planning Association
1. Certification and licensing of planners.
2. Co-operation between planners and other disciplines to achieve an effective contribution by planners to the creation of sustainable human settlements.
3. Effective representation of the planning profession and its interests to regional governments and key stakeholders on important national and regional issues.
4. Access to up to date professional knowledge via newsletters, publications, online journals, and other resources.
International Partners and the CNULM Mission
Provide credibility and support for local / Caribbean based planning initiatives.
Technical Resources
Dialogue and share ideas
Financial resources
Areas of Collaboration With International Partners
CUF - Caribbean Urban Forum
Knowledge Management Platform for the Caribbean
Web-based Caribbean professional planners directory
Web-based Caribbean urban sector research / documents inventory
Functional multi-partner website
Young Planners Network Mechanism
Technical and Policy Working Paper Series
Consultative Mechanism with CARICOM
CPA – Caribbean Planners Association
Consultative Mechanisms with multilateral organisation.
Highlight recent discussions emerging from the conference on the Caribbean Urban Agenda
Introduce discussion on a new discourse in
planning "how to address issues associated with cities in small island states, with emphasis on the Caribbean“
Adopting the certification, accreditation and
continued professional development framework of APA /CIP for Planners working in urban planning and related fields in small island states of the Caribbean
Map of the Caribbean Region
Caribbean is one of the most urbanized regions in the world where over 70 percent of the population lives in towns or cities.
Aerial View of Municipality of Portmore, Jamaica (the population of Portmore is larger than that of the island of St. Vincent and the Grenidines
The rapid urban growth and associated issues in the Caribbean requires a concerted effort from various academic disciplines and public policy sectors.
To address issues of flooding we require the input of urban planners, infrastructural engineers, and environmental specialists and the residents being affected. Furthermore, problems of public safety require inputs from social, spatial and legal perspectives.
(picture of an informal settlement
In Clarendon, Jamaica, 2010)
Urbanization Energy Usage Climate Change Land Use Management
Informal Settlement in New Lands, St. Catherine, Jamaica
Informal Settlement in San Fernando, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
The discussions on urban development in the Caribbean have been largely defined and led by multilateral agencies.
These agencies have put forward a wide range of programs to improve urban conditions in various critical domains of urban life such as crime and violence, public safety, access to water and sanitation, urban-rural linkages as well as in areas that relate to the managing or governing or cities such as participatory governance and decentralization.
The application of the global urban agenda to the Caribbean driven UNDP. Planner in the Caribbean recognize that this is useful starting point, but issues of Caribbean relevance also need to be addressed.
Programs such as the Urban Management Program, the Safer City, and
the currently executed Participatory Slum Upgrading (PSUP) have been implemented in cities all over the world, including in the Caribbean. The formulation of these programs and the funding concentration is largely driven by the impact of urban development, or lack thereof, in other parts of the world, primarily in Asia and Africa.
According to research done by the Caribbean Network of Urban Land Managers, there is a default Caribbean agenda.
A list of critical urban issues that has largely been defined by programs, projects and agencies operating within the global context with limited consideration for these small island states historical, social, economic and environmental realities
High Priority Local economic development and Poverty alleviation
unemployment, Strengthening diversified local opportunities for economic development, Provision of housing and basic services
Enabling mechanisms for government and professionals Research, Communications, Training, Education, Financing etc.
Governance Implementation, Communication and legislation, Municipal
governance, awareness component, Co-governance inclusive governance, Partnerships, coordination
Informal sector
tenure security, informal settlements, informal economy
Natural hazards and disaster management
climate change, built environment resilience, response capacity
Lower Priority • Physical/ Human Security
Crime, Safety, Freedom from fear
Physical Living Conditions
Housing, Basic services (water, sanitation, energy use, transportation etc.)
Inequality
Social, Economic inequality based on gender, age
Climate Change(contribution to)
Energy, Emission, Transportation, Green Economy
Climate Change (vulnerability to) LECZ, Adaptation at local community level
Sustainable planning
Urban form (compact), Holistic, Comprehensive coastal zone settlements planning, Land management/use, Rural/urban integrated planning
Planners Commitment to Advancing the Caribbean Urban Agenda
As a result of emerging discourse on the Caribbean urban agenda, there has been renewed effort to develop an approach to address the practice of planning and the work that planners are involved with from across the Caribbean region and the wider Americas. This renewed effort is calling for greater hemispheric collaboration around an urban agenda, among other planning related issues. The issue of leadership within the planning community featured once again as pressing issue.
The general sentiments among urban planners in the Caribbean is that there is a need for planners to establish a niche for themselves and be more effective in engaging other stakeholder, notably politicians. Civil society (NGO’s), in particular, have called for renewed advocacy on the part of planners, not only in promoting an urban agenda, but other issues as well. This it was felt would help planners in gaining recognition. Urban planners and decision makers in the Caribbean also felt that there is a need to further clarify the goals and objectives of the proposed Caribbean urban agenda. This urban agenda must be clear on exactly the kind of cities we want to create in the Caribbean and how this will be achieved.
The emerging network of urban planners in the Caribbean recognized that effective planning, development and maintenance of the built environment in Small Island Developing States and Territories must, occur within a sustainable development framework and involve action primarily at the local and national levels while ensuring representation, cooperation and dialogue at the regional and international levels.
Urban planners in the Caribbean have recommitted to the application of multidisciplinary approaches to developing and maintaining sustainable and resilient communities, as well as demanding collaborative, cost effective and innovative approaches to problem solving in small island developing states of the Caribbean. Given the fact that town, cities and other urban settlements in the Caribbean vary in population, geographical conditions and the quality of life, the network of urban planners in the Caribbean are committed to develop a framework for exchanging knowledge and experience of best practices within a Caribbean context. This framework is being informed collaboration with the American Planning Association and the Canadian Institute of Planners (our neighbors from the north) Possible outcome of this collaboration
certifying planning professionals from across the region accreditation of education and training programs Collaboration on research and consultancies
Charlotte Street, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
Downtown, Kingston, Jamaica
