The Authority facilitates co-operation among persons and manages the environment in a manner, which fosters participation and promotes consensus, including encouraging the use of appropriate means to avoid or expeditiously resolve disputes through mechanisms for alternative dispute resolution.
- Make recommendations for a National Environment Policy;
- Develop and implement policies and programmes for the effective management and wise use of the environment, consistent with the objects of the EM Act;
- Co-ordinate environmental management functions performed by persons in Trinidad and Tobago;
- Make recommendations for the rationalization of all governmental entities performing environmental functions;
- Promote educational and public awareness programs on the environment;
- Develop and establish national environmental standards and criteria;
- Monitor compliance with the standards criteria and programs relating to the environment;
- Take all appropriate action for the prevention and control of pollution and conservation of the environment;
- Establish and co-ordinate institutional linkages locally, regionally and internationally;
- Undertake anything incidental or conducive to the performance of any of the foregoing functions.
- Conduct analyses of air, soil and water to determine program priorities.
- Issue Certificates of Environmental Clearance to new development projects that may impact the environment; in some cases an Environmental Impact Assessment(EIA) may be a requirement of the developer.
- Monitor compliance according to the standards in the Noise Pollution Control Rules 2001 and processing variations for persons wishing to exceed standards;
- Provide for the designation and protection of Environmentally Sensitive Areas and Species.
- Resolve complaints through voluntary compliance, support to other agencies or enforcement of rules;
- Respond to emergencyincidents and spills in conjunction with other government agencies. Provides technical and investigative support to response teams.
- Assist the Government in implementing global and regional environmental agreements including:
- Convention on Biodiversity
- Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer
- The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal
- United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
- Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants
- Provide advice to other government agencies, NGOs and individuals on environmental matters.
- Maintain a large and diverse information centre to support the above programs.