GRID Polar Division News

27-28 August - Arendal, Norway - The GA Polar Programme convenes a meeting of Observers to the Arctic Council in order to prepare an "Arctic Vision" statement, which sets out a common vision among the observers for sustainable development in the Arctic.

13-22 August, 2012 - Kathmandu, Nepal - Lawrence Hislop, Bjorn Alfthan and Riccardo Pravettoni take part in the Himalayan Climate Change Adaptation Programme (HICAP) Regional Review and Planning Workshop that is hosted by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD).

18-22 June, 2012 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - Peter Prokosh and Lawrence Hislop represent GA at the RIO+20 events. Peter will attend several high-level events and network actively in the corridors and during the plenary. Lawrence will take part in panel discussions with the aim of enhancing exposure to GA's activities in the Arctic and in the Himalayas.

15 June, 2012 - Paris, France - Lawrence Hislop participates in a mini-workshop to finalize a six-month project with the European Space Agency, which is supporting European Arctic policymaking. Partners from the Polar View consortium will be present at the meeting as well. The project will close at the end of the workshop.

12-14 June, 2012 - Tromsø, Norway - Lawrence Hislop participates in the 15th Council meeting of the University of the Arctic. Lawrence will propose the creation of a new thematic network on Communicating Arctic Research. The new network will help instruct students and researchers on state of the art communication tools and techniques related to Arctic issues.

21-22 May, 2012 - Arendal, Norway - Nand Kishow Agrawal and Andrea Perlis from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and Asuncion St. Clair and Armando LaMadrid from the Centre for International Climate and Environmental Research - Oslo (CICERO) visit GA for a HiCAP team planning and familiarisation with GA activities.

15 May, 2012 - Stockholm, Sweden - Peter Prokosch represents UNEP at the Arctic Council's Deputy Ministers' Meeting.

10-20 May, 2012 - Thimphu and Gasa, Bhuta - Lawrence Hislop joins colleagues from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and the Center for International Climate and Environmental Research - Oslo (CICERO) in a field trip to collect data, take photos and conduct personal interviews in relation to the HICAP project.

07-11 May, 2012 - New York, USA - Kathrine I. Johnsen represents UNEP at the 11th Session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

21-25 April, 2012 - Montreal, Canada - Lawrence Hislop attends the International Polar Year (IPY) conference to network with partners and attend relevant meetings and events.