Efforts to develop mitigation and adaptation strategies and to pursue sustainable development strategies in the Arctic and in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) have so far been limited to the individual regions, and have therefore had limited success in reaching a broader audience. Nonetheless over the last few years the need to address the concerns of vulnerable regions in the Arctic and SIDS facing climate change has received increasing international attention. Below is a chronology of key publications related to climate change in the Arctic and SIDS, and a summary of key events leading up to the establishment of the Many Strong Voices programme.
1999
The Communique of the Third Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), adopted at the United Nations, 25 September 1999 states that:
Unchecked climate change would have devastating effects on small island developing States, threatening the well-being and the very survival of island communities, and … these effects are being experienced at present in all regions. Climate change will further undermine the efforts of small island developing States to achieve sustainable development. They therefore asserted that global warming and sea level rise should be given higher priority by the international community.
[1]
2001
The report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change pointed to the situation in SIDS, noting that “small island states constitute a very high-risk group of countries as a consequence of their high vulnerability and low adaptive capacity.” While discussions on mitigation continue, Working Group II of the 2001 IPCC report point out that “adaptation options and requirements already is critical for small islands, given that these countries are projected to suffer disproportionately from the effects of climate change.”
[2]
2003
In February 2003, UNEP's Governing Council passed a resolution recognizing the Arctic as a "barometer" or "indicator region" of the globe's environmental health. The Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) called its member countries the 'front line' states and ‘weather vanes’ of global environmental change.
2004
In 2004, representatives of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference, Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and UNEP/GRID-Arendal began discussing the need for a joint effort to raise awareness about the effects of Climate Change in the world’s most vulnerable regions. The Arctic Council produced a policy document containing recommendations on climate change mitigation, adaptation, research, monitoring and outreach in the Arctic.
2005
In 2005, the Arctic Climate Impact Report (ACIA) was released and placed the Arctic squarely in the centre of the climate change discussion.
The MSV programme was launched at a roundtable organized by UNEP/GRID-Arendal at the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC/ COP 11) meeting in Montréal in December 2005, as discussions took place about the need for global efforts on adaptation. The MSV focus was designed to aid in the broader goals outlined in Article 6 of the UNFCCC. [3] Participants included Dr. Klaus Töpfer, former Executive Director of UNEP; Sheila Watt-Cloutier, then International Chair, Inuit Circumpolar Conference; Taito Nakalevu, Climate Change Adaptation Officer, of the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP); and Karen Kraft Sloan, Canada's Ambassador for the Environment.
2006
The first MSV planning meeting took place in Ottawa in March 2006 and a Steering Group was formed. Planning for the workshop began at this time. The 26th meeting of the UNFCCC Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) was held at the COP 12 meeting in Nairobi in November 2006. The
Nairobi work programme on impacts, vulnerability and adaptation to climate change recognized the importance of adaptation planning to developing countries, especially the Small Island Developing States.
[4]
2007
The first MSV Stakeholders’ Planning Workshop was held in Belize in late May. Co-hosted by the Caricom Climate Change Centre in Belize, it was attended by more than 50 people from the Arctic, Pacific, Caribbean, North America and Europe. The goals of the workshop were 1) to discuss the latest research and assessments on climate change vulnerability and adaptation in the Arctic and SIDS and 2) to begin developing a Five-Year MSV Action Plan.
Workshop participants highlighted similar climate change effects in both regions, including the relocation of communities away from coastal areas due to sea level rise and frequent storm surges, and the human and economic impacts of changes to the marine resources upon which Arctic and SIDS communities depend. This new alliance decided to press for significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions globally while working to ensure that resources are allocated regionally to assist those that need to adapt now to climate change.
Many Strong Voices provided logistical, communications and other support for MSV participants at the UNFCCC COP 13 in Bali, Indonesia in December.
Both the workshop and Bali activities attracted considerable media attention and MSV messages were delivered around the globe.
2008
The MSV
SIDS Dynamic Assessment of Vulnerability and Adaptation template and
Five-Year Action Plan are finalized. Additional support is attracted.
[1] COMMUNIQUE of the Third Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), Adopted at the United Nations, 25 September 1999.
[3] UNFCCC Article 6 focuses on education, training and awareness. UNEP/GRID-Arendal works with other sections of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in implementing Article 6 of the UNFCCC. A number of UNEP-sponsored regional initiatives under Article 6 that have taken place in Europe, Russia/CIS, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.