GRID-Arendal Biennium Report 2012 - 2013

mitment to the GEF Blue Forests programme. GRID-Aren- dal is also positioning itself, through the appointment of highly qualified experts, to engage with UNEP’s TEEB (The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity) programme. Within the context of the Nomadic Herders Project, the Polar and Cryosphere programme implemented the pre- paratory phase of a large-scale GEF project, which should lead to concrete impacts on the biodiversity of Mongolian and Russian pasturelands, contributing to fulfilment of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Our Cryosphere work, anchored in the Himalayan Climate Change Adaptation Programme (HICAP), has achieved significant synergies with the Center for International Cli- mate Research – Oslo (CICERO) and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). The partnership with ICIMOD, a regional intergovernmen- tal learning and knowledge-sharing centre that serves the whole region of the Hindu-Kush Himalayas, has proved especially rewarding. Our long-standing work within the African Environment Information Network (AfricaEIN) has been revived in or- der to tap into other information networks, including the Global Network of Networks and UNEPLive. The Afri- caEIN is a network of information and data centres, insti- tutions and experts across Africa, which aims to avail in- formation and data for environmental assessments such as the Africa Environment Outlook. A funding proposal has been submitted to the GEF for a medium-sized pro- ject. Plans for the future AfricaEIN are set out in a booklet entitled Strengthening the Africa Environment Information Network: A Framework to Increase Access to Environmental Information and to Support Africa’s Development Planning Processes . In the past biennium, GRID-Arendal started the Chemi- cal Safety Programme. In its framework it has conducted 3 projects, including the project on ‘Toxic Metals in Chil- dren’s Products’ in cooperation with the International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN). 569 different chil- dren’s products, mainly toys, available on the market in 2012 in 6 countries of the EECCA region (Armenia, Be- larus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Ukraine) have been analyzed. Measurements focused on 6 heavy met- als - lead, mercury, arsenic, antimony, cadmium and chro- mium. Approximately 27% of the products were found to

contain at least one toxic metal above maximum permis- sible level and 13% contained two or more toxic metals, increasing their potential for harm. A media campaign, designed to attract public attention and initiate discus- sions with concerned audiences has generated more than 300 publications in European media and contributed to policy changes. The project ‘Improvement of the environmental policy of Tajikistan in order to reduce mercury pollution and im- prove human health’ in partnership with IPEN and local NGO The Foundation for the Support of Civil Initiatives, undertook a laboratory evaluation of the sources of mer- cury emissions in the mining industry in the Sogd prov- ince of Tajikistan, provided technical assistance to 5 hos- pitals and capacity building for 130 staff in the cities of Dushanbe and Vahdat. It also set up collection points for mercury waste from households, organized the exchange of conventional mercury lamps for energy saving ones, and instructed 250 people on the collection of the hazard- ous waste. The project has received a considerable atten- tion of national media and praise from the Chairman of the Environmental Commission of the Parliament of Tajik- istan Mr. Makhmadsharaf Khakdodov. He acknowledged its contribution to forming the position of Tajikistan to- wards the Minamata Convention. On the request of the Chemicals Branch of the UNEP Di- vision of Technology, Industry and Economics, a medium- size GEF project proposal titled: ‘Development of mercu- ry inventory and national mercury management approach in Belarus, Ukraine and Kazakhstan.’ has been prepared with the national beneficiaries, endorsed by governments of project countries and submitted by UNEP to the GEF Secretariat. Partners have conducted a feasibility study of the sources of mercury contamination in the three coun- tries. Another Project Identification Form (PIF) has been devel- oped by the Interim Secretariat of the Tehran Convention with the participation of GRID-Arendal for a GEF project titled: ‘Advancement of pollution control and reduction in the Caspian Sea through enhanced regional governance and knowledge of the Caspian Sea’. The project will focus on three catalytic areas: regional governance; environmen- tal monitoring; and capacity building and strengthening of the scientific community in understanding the Caspian ecosystem.

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