Publication Name

58 / 96

58
• GRID-Arendal participated in the 10th Meeting of the
Conference of the Parties to the Abidjan Convention
(COP10) in November 2012. The theme of the COP10
meeting was ‘Financing Marine and Coastal Environ-
mental Management projects in Africa’. GRID-Arendal
presented its Sustainable Seas Programme and organ-
ized a side event focussed on Areas Beyond National
Jurisdiction.
• During 2013, GRID-Arendal produced a package of
communication and outreach products and services
for the AbuDhabi Blue CarbonDemonstration Project.145
These included: an AGEDI brochure, an infographic
factsheet, a project flyer (in English and Arabic), an in-
fographic edible postcard, a project description video, a
newsletter, editorials and a series of presentation mate-
rials. GRID-Arendal also facilitated the updating of the
Blue Carbon website146 with social media integration
and the setting up of the Blue Carbon Vimeo channel.
• In October 2013 GRID-Arendal was invited by UNEP to
present lessons learned in developing the Blue Forests
Project FSP and in implementing the Abu Dhabi Blue
Carbon Demonstration Project at the 7th Biennial GEF
International Waters Conference (IWC7).147 GRID-Aren-
dal also facilitated the Targeted Workshop on Economic
Valuation for GEF IW Project Managers and Agencies
at IWC7.
• The Abu Dhabi Blue Carbon Demonstration Project
also featured in the May 2013 edition of the Etihad Air-
ways in-flight magazine in an article titled ‘A pioneering
project’.148 In addition, GRID-Arendal and AGEDI staff
engaged with the Royal Norwegian Embassy149 in Abu
Dhabi and a story on the project was featured on the
Embassy’s web site.
• GRID-Arendal led a Green Economy and Blue Carbon
session at the July 2013 AIMS regional preparatory
145.
146.http:bluecarbonportal.org
147.
index_html
148. C:\Users\skaalvik\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary
Internet Files\Content.Outlook\26XA8XZC\bluecarbonportal.
org\?download=10026
149.
meeting leading up to the 2014 SIDS Summit, and was
invited to co-implement a Nairobi Convention Green
Economy workshop in Seychelles in December 2013.
• In February 2013, a well-visited side event on the Arctic
was held during UNEP’s Governing Council meeting.
Anders Oskal, from the International Centre for Rein-
deer Husbandry, represented the Nomadic Herders
GEF project on the panel and made a presentation on
‘Emerging threats to the Arctic environment and indig-
enous people´s livelihoods’.150
• From October 2012 to October 2013 UN-related or-
ganizations in Norway, including GRID-Arendal, have
facilitated 15 thematic consultations on the Post-2015
Development Agenda. GRID-Arendal hosted two of
the consultations. The outcome of this process was
presented in a summary report entitled The Future We
Want For All - Report on the National Post-2015 Consulta-
tions in Norway, that was presented to the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs at a seminar held on 24 October 2013
in Oslo.
• GRID-Arendal participated with an exhibition stand at
the Sustainable Destinations conferenceof Innovasjon
Norge in January 2013. The message of the Minister of
Commerce that Norway is aiming to become the most
sustainable tourist destination in the world may give
GRID-Arendal opportunities for closer cooperation
with Innovasjon Norge (which handles most of the
tourism budget of the Ministry).
• GRID-Arendal takes part in the annual celebration of
International Week in Arendal, Norway. The week long
event, which features seminars and workshops, exhibi-
tions, a film-series, and other activities targeting differ-
ent audiences, is jointly organized by GRID-Arendal and
other regional and local organizations, to create aware-
ness on the chosen theme of the celebration, to pro-
mote action at all levels and to facilitate dialogue across
all stakeholders. The focus of the 2012 celebration was
on sustainable energy in support of the 2012 UN Year of
Sustainable Energy for All. The focus of the 2013 celebra-
tion was on water cooperation in support of the 2013.
150.