Many Strong Voices

Climate Change and Adaptation in the Arctic and Small Island Developing States

11th Annual Conference of the International Environmental ForumResponding to Climate Change:

Scientific Realities, Spiritual Imperatives

Ottawa, Canada12 October 2007

What is Many Strong Voices?

The Many Strong Voices programme is an unique alliance between the Arctic and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

It aims to ensure the well-being of these regions in the face of climate change, and to help people protect their cultures, economies and environments.

Why is it needed?• 2007 report of the International

Panel on Climate Change (IPCC IV)– Arctic and SIDS most severely

affected by climate change.

• Although natural and human environments differ markedly there are similar effects, including:

– Rising temperatures– Changing precipitation– Shifts in the frequency/intensity of

extreme weather events– Projected changes in sea level

threaten the ecology, economies and social and cultural fabric of both regions, posing serious challenges for sustainable development.

Similar concerns – Arctic and SIDS are the front lines of climate change

Arctic and Small Island Developing States - Challenges

• reliance on economies based on natural resources on land and at sea

• high unemployment and low average educational attainment

• transportation and communication challenges• coastal zones of great importance for the human and

natural environment

Arctic and Small Island Developing States - Strengths

• a continuing, deeply-rooted connection of the people to their environment

• incorporation of traditional knowledge into daily life and decision-making

• a history of resilience and a demonstrated ability to adapt to outside influences over generations

What are the Goals?• Build capacity to strengthen

the role of these vulnerable regions in negotiations on greenhouse gas mitigation and on climate change adaptation

• Raise awareness about the effects of climate change on vulnerable regions 

• Increase understanding of needs and solutions 

• Take action on adaptation

What will it do?Develop a five-year action plan

that will:

• Conduct a comprehensive coastal impact assessment

• Develop new climate change networks to facilitate the sharing of knowledge and best practices between vulnerable regions,

• Support communities to devise concrete, community-relevant adaptation strategies, and

• Develop communications tools that will ensure that people’s voices are heard in international negotiations.

Institutional Partners and CollaboratorsAleut International Association (AIA)

Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC)

Arctic Athabaskan Council (AAC)

Center for International Climate and Environment Research – Oslo (CICERO)

Climate Change & Energy Programme, Foundation for International Environmental Law and Development (FIELD)

Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities (UNEP-GPA)

Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC)

New Zealand Tourism Research Institute (NZTRI)

Organization of American States Dept. of Sustainable Development

Overseas Countries and Territories of the European Union (OCTA)

Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)

Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI)

UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Secretariat (UNFCCC)

UNEP/GRID-Arendal

WWF South Pacific Programme

www.manystrongvoices.org

Shishmaref, Alaska Male, Maldives