28 June 1996 Lincoln link with 'unique duo' in polar data collection

A major new environmental partnership between New Zealand and the United Nations was launched with flag-flying ceremony at Christchurch’s International Antarctic Centre recently and Lincoln University has a direct involvement with the link.

The partnership sees Christchurch become the Southern Hemisphere arm of an environmental data gathering operation covering the Arctic and Antarctic regions. Arendal, Norway is the Northern Hemisphere arm, and the pair of stations have been described as a "unique duo".

Specifically the information gathering is for the United Nations Environmental Programme's Global Resource Information Database, known under the acronym GRID, and technically Christchurch becomes a "node" within the system.

The Lincoln University connection is through representation on the board of the International Centre for Antarctic Information and Research (ICAIR), with Dr Ian Spellerberg, Head of the Department of Resource Management and Director of the Centre for Resource Management, having been a board member since 1994.

ICAIR co-ordinated the organisation and arrangements for Christchurch to become the Southern Hemisphere node for the Antarctic, work which spanned two years and involved negotiations between the Norwegian and New Zealand governments.

Countries operating GRID nodes – and there are many other "nodes" outside the two related to the Arctic and Antarctic – supply information to the United Nations General Assembly to help in decision-making about global environmental issues. GRID projects include deforestation assessment, preservation of endangered species, climatic change and the impact of pollution.

Dr Spellerberg represented Lincoln University at the official launch of the Christchurch GRID node link, conducted by the Executive Director of the United Nations Environmental Programme, Elizabeth Dowdeswell of Canada.

The Community Diary. Produced by The Community Relations Centre, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand.