By Vashti G Guyadeen
Copyright trinidadexpress
In this week’s TT Chamber business column, we feature an address delivered by Vashti G Guyadeen, CEO of the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce,
at the dual launch of the Solar PV Installation and the handbook Accounting for Emissions on Wednesday, September 17 at the UTT San Fernando campus.
it is a privilege to welcome you to the launch of the Accounting for Emissions Handbook, an important resource designed to help businesses in Trinidad and Tobago strengthen their competitiveness in a world where carbon accounting is no longer optional but required.
This initiative is the product of strong collaboration. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Trinidad and Tobago and ACCA Caribbean partnered with the Chamber to bring this handbook to life. UNDP, through the GCCA+ Project supported by the European Union, has been leading efforts to advance climate resilience and renewable energy solutions across Trinidad and Tobago. We are particularly grateful to Mark Thomas of UNDP, whose leadership ensured that this project was delivered to the highest international standard.
ACCA Caribbean’s contribution was equally critical. Their global expertise in accounting and professional standards helped shape a guide that aligns with international requirements, while remaining practical and relevant to our local business environment. Together, UNDP and ACCA provided the technical depth and foresight needed to ensure this handbook will stand as a benchmark for sustainable business practices in our region.
The Chamber is proud to have supported this work, bringing the voice of the private sector to the table. I also wish to acknowledge the efforts of our Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Committee, chaired by Mr Gervon Abraham, for their role in connecting this guide to the wider sustainability agenda within our business community.
What this handbook makes clear is that carbon accounting is not a side issue—it is now central to business success. Companies that embrace it will be the ones to attract investment, build consumer trust, and secure access to global markets.
This handbook is therefore not just a document—it is a call to action. It provides the tools for companies to build robust emissions-tracking systems, to integrate sustainability into their business models, and to demonstrate that Caribbean enterprises can lead with responsibility and vision.
As Prime Minister Mia Mottley has reminded us: “We are not passive bystanders to the reality of climate change. We are agents of change. We have the power to choose a future that is safe, just, and sustainable.”
Let us take that message to heart. By using this handbook, and by embracing sustainability as a core business practice, we can build a stronger private sector and a more resilient, competitive economy for Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean.
On behalf of the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce, I extend my deepest thanks to UNDP, ACCA Caribbean, Mark Thomas, and chairman Gervon Abraham for their contributions to this initiative. Together, we are showing that the path to growth and resilience is also the path to sustainability.
Thank you. And let me close by reminding all of us: we have no choice but to integrate ESG measures and practices into our business models, because it makes economic sense.
Please access the following link to download the handbook: https://app.box.com/s/6qtnms7b3t58vygtep8b6ki92wbv59eo
About the TT Chamber’s ESG Committee
The ESG Committee of the TT Chamber provides strategic leadership to members in advancing ESG adoption, reporting, and integration. It is committed to addressing barriers, aligning with global standards and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, while supporting national priorities for sustainable growth.
