The first draft of the greenhouse gases report for Barbados has been submitted.
However, there are still concerns over what is being described as "significant data gaps" and a need for greater cooperation between stakeholders.
These were among the points raised recently during the Preparation of Barbados’ Second National Communication Report to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) which focused on the topic: Barbados’ Greenhouse Gas Inventory: Capacity Building to a Wider Audience at the Savannah Hotel.
Project Manager for Barbados’ Hydrofluorocarbon Phase-Out Management Plan project, Rickardo Ward, urged stakeholders who attended the two-day workshop to provide the data requested by to the consultants so they could complete their work. "At some point we will have to cease the data gathering. This is the last opportunity to make a contribution and corrections to the quality of the work," he stated.
He added that it was important for Barbados to "get it right" and put the appropriate framework and mechanisms in place. He explained that Barbados had a strong voice in issues related to the green economy, and stressed that it was therefore critical to understand what the emissions were, and the levels that existed within the country.
Among the data still required was information on burning and incineration in Barbados, along with information on the primary source of vehicles, estimates of the age of the vehicle fleet, and the percentage that might include catalytic converters.
Consultant with the project, Natalie Hutchinson, explained that some of the challenges being encountered included a reluctance to collaborate with consultants, delayed responses, information being withheld and the non-existence of data in the relevant organisations.
In delivering his summary, Consultant with Aether, Dr. Chris Dore, recommended that up-to-date activity data for key areas needed to be provided, so surveys and further investigations could be done to develop country specific knowledge in terms of accurate data.
He outlined that detailed fuel consumption data by energy sector; data on feed stocks and products from the chemical processing industry; and a detailed livestock census were among the areas that should be given high priority.
In addition, Dr. Dore pointed out that information on the use of animal waste management systems; data on the consumption of synthetic fertilisers; the collection of regular land cover data; information on the scale of open burning of waste; and data on wastewater treatment, both residential and industrial, also needed to be provided.
The preparation of the report is intended to document and communicate to the world the domestic actions undertaken and planned, pursuant to the goals and objectives of the UNFCCC and its Kyoto Protocol.
It will look at activities related to climate change in the country, and is designed to look at the areas of energy, industrial processes, agricultural waste and land use, land change and forestry.