MSV – Many Strong Voices

Background and Goals

Many Strong Voices, started in December 2005 by the Environmental Programme of the United Nations, brings together participants from the Arctic and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to share and improve their knowledge and expertise regarding the climate change, and to develop joint strategic solutions to the challenges of the climate change.

Objectives:

  • Support in strengthening the role of these regions in negotiations on greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change.
  • Develop a comprehensive climate change vulnerability and adaptation assessment in the SIDS.
  • Raise awareness of the consequences of the climate change in vulnerable regions.
  • Understand needs and solutions.
  • Provide motivation for actions to address and avoid the negative consequences of climate change.

Content time

to

Research area/region

Country
  • Fiji
  • Greenland
  • Great Britain
  • Canada
  • New Zealand
  • Norway
  • Russia
  • Sweden
  • Seychelles
  • USA

Steps in the process of adaptation to climate change

Step 1: Understand and describe climate change

Approach and results 

regional statistical climate scenarios are developed for Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados

Step 2a: Identify and assess risks - climate effects and impact

Approach and results 

The Arctic and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are directly threatened by climate change and vulnerable to its effects. Both regions face considerable challenges in confronting climate change impacts on their economies, ecologies, and cultures.

Step 2b: Identify and assess risks - Vulnerability, risks and chances

Approach and results 

A dynamic assessment of vulnerability and adaptation was carried out in the SIDS in 2008, with regard to the climate change.

Step 3: Develop and compare measures

Measures and/or strategies 

Communities in both regions have already shown in the past that they are able to adapt to changing conditions. However, the climate change will pose new and unprecedented challenges to their adaptive capacity and resilience.

Objectives:

- Strengthening the adaptive capacity

- Mainstreaming of adaptations

- Involvement of local knowledge

- Exchange of adaptation experiences

Participants

Funding / Financing 

UNEP

Project management 

CICERO (Centre for International Climate and Environmental Research)

Cooperation/Partners 

The MSV Programme consists of a consortium of partners, who represent almost 20 Arctic and SIDS nations:

Policy and research:

  • Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre Centre for International Climate and Environmental Research (CICERO) (coordinator)
  • New Zealand Tourism Research Institute (NZTRI)
  • Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
  • Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI)
  • UNEP/GRID-Arendal

Non-governmental organisations:

  • Climate Change & Energy Programme, Foundation for International Environmental Law and Development (FIELD)
  • Climate Law and Policy Project WWF South Pacific Programme International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED)
  • Nature Seychelles Sea Level Rise Foundation

Indigenous peoples:

  • Arctic Athabaskan Council (AAC)
  • Inuit Circumpolar (ICC)

Multinational organisations:

  • Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-Based Activities (UNEP-GPA)
  • Organization of American States, Department of Sustainable Development (OAS DSD)
  • Overseas Countries and Territories of the European Union (OCTA)
  • United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
  • UNEP Regional Office for North America (RONA)
  • UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Secretariat (UNFCCC)

Financing:

- Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

- United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

- UNEP Regional Office for North America (RONA)

- Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation (Canada)

- United Nations Foundation (USA)

- The Christensen Fund

- Caribbean Community (Caricom) Climate Change Centre (CCCCC)

- Foundation for International Environmental Law and Development (FIELD)

- Organization of the American States Department of Sustainable Development (OAS DSD)

- Climate Law and Policy Project

- U.S. National Science Foundation

- International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED)

Contact

CICERO (Centre for International Climate and Environmental Research - Oslo/Senter for klimaforskning)
Sognsveien 68
N-0318 Oslo
ilan [dot] kelman [at] cicero [dot] uio [dot] no
www.cicero.uio.no

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 Küsten- und Meeresschutz  Handlungsfeldübergreifend