Programme Cooperation Agreement 2014: Final Report for the Period 01 January 2014 to 01 March 2015

Keeping a finger on the Arctic pulse

in Brussels where the network of European expert institutions presented the project results. GRID-Arendal was extensively involved in the project by organizing eight stakeholders’ consultation workshops, the outputs of which formed a significant contribution to the main deliverable. 19 GRID-Arendal’s work on stakeholder engagement was well received. GRID-Arendal remains a

As a UNEP Centre of Excellence on Polar issues, GRID- Arendal continues tomaintain a strong focus on the Arctic.

The European-funded ‘Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment of Development of the Arctic’ project was successfully completed and officially closed in September 2014. GRID-Arendal attended the final seminar

19. http://www.arcticinfo.eu/en

SIGNIFICANT OUTCOME

CC

Improved media skills headlined

Extract from an e-mail received from Kieran Cooke , Principal Trainer, 22 January 2015:

“There is a tendency among many journalists to editorialize and to express their own opinions in articles rather than present facts and interviews objectively. The training sessions helped correct these tendencies: the journalists gained from their exposure to international media and have quickly learned to present their articles and pieces in a clear, objective and well balanced way. Several of the journalists involved in GRID-Arendal’s workshops have contributed articles to the Climate News Network and have been encouraged by the exposure of their work to a wider, international audience. As a HICAP trainer I am impressed by the continuing enthusiasm shown by the journalists concerned for reporting often complex environmental issues. They show commitment and work hard. It is a pleasure to work with them.” The success of the journalist trainings are being felt in other ways. ICIMOD, which had little to no concerted media training engagement prior to HICAP, has decided to use this model to its other programmes and projects. Through these media trainings, a critical mass of informed and well-equipped environmental journalists is being developed across the region. Om Astha Rai of Nepal wrote “The grant program has been a great opportunity for me. It gave me a chance to visit remote villages of Mustang district, which is vulnerable to climate change. I would have perhaps never reached these remote Mustang villages had I not received the grant. What I saw and experienced in Mustang will always help me better understand impacts of climate change on mountain people. It will help me link scientific report with field experience for my future stories. ” Saleem Shaikh of Pakistan wrote “Honestly speaking, I am highly indebted to ICIMOD, HICAP and GRID-Arendal for the award of media grant, which enabled me to go to unexplored area from climate change impacts view point and report on the impacts and local adaptation there.” Feedback from some grantees can attest to the success of the trainings:

Journalists on the Brahmaputra river, Assam, India.

Photo journalist Karen Dias interviewing villagers in India.

Kieran Cooke leading a training session. All photos: Ieva Rucevska.

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