1. Many Strong Voices Climate Change and Adaptation in the Arctic and Small Island Developing States 11 th Annual Conference of the International Environmental Forum Responding to Climate Change: Scientific Realities, Spiritual Imperatives Ottawa, Canada 12 October 2007

2. 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.

3. 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.

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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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.

10. Institutional Partners and Collaborators Aleut 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

11. www.manystrongvoices.org Shishmaref, AlaskaMale, Maldives