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Global
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Present at selected Arctic Council meetings related to climate change
adaptation and mitigation and to biodiversity on behalf of UNEP.
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UNEP Arctic Team established for better coordination of UNEP strategy and
work in relation to the Arctic started.
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UNEP advised on several Polar issues, including the main Arctic decision of
2008 at UNEPs Governing Council meeting; responded to enquiries and
prepared briefing materials for UNEP as requested. GRID-Arendal funded
these activities from its core fund in 2008 and will continue to support this work
in 2009; some funding from UNEP secured for 2009, especially for work related
to Arctic biodiversity.
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GRID-Arendal (representing UNEP as an observer in the Arctic Council) has
participated as a partner in developing the Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring
Programme (CBMP) and the Arctic Biodiversity Assessment (ABA), both
programmes are run by Arctic Council's working group Conservation of Arctic
Flora and Fauna (CAFF).
- ABA web site: http://caff.arcticportal.org/index.php?
option=com_content&view=frontpage&Itemid=156
- CBMP web site: http://cbmp.arcticportal.org/
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GRID-Arendal has provided active support to the Steering Committees of both
programmes. Participation in ABA and CBMP teleconferences, at ABA Steering
Committee meeting in Copenhagen in March 2009 and Vancouver in Sept.
2009.
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GRID-Arendal is the editor of the upcoming ABA report Arctic Biodiversity
Trends 2010 – Selected Indicators of Status and Trends to be published
mid-2010.
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GRID-Arendal has also been involved in the drafting of the key messages that
will be included in the CBD’s Global Biodiversity Outlook, to be launched in May
2010.
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Assisted in organizing the Conference on High Mountain Glaciers and
Challenges caused by Climate Change in Tromsø in June.
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Made a presentation and contributed to High Mountain Glaciers Conference
Theme 3 (Climate change impact on ecosystems and livelihoods and
adaptation strategies)
DEWA: A3.1 – Documentation on polar and cryosphere issues
for intergovernmental bodies, including Arctic Council and
ATCM.