START
Global Change System for Analysis, Research and Training

www.start.org

Type of Structure:	network / framework activity
Regional Scope :	global
Parent Organisations :	ESSP, IGBP.ICSU, WCRP.WCP, IHDP.ISSC
Child Organisations :	START-Africa, START-Oceania, START-South-Asia, START-Southeast-Asia, START-Temp-East-Asia No more in operation : CLIMAG, NAFCOM, START-Mediterranean
Duration :	1992 to present
Contact Address :	Dr. Hassan Virji Director International START Secretariat 2000 Florida Avenue NW, Suite 200 Washington, DC 20009 United States of America Phone: +1 202 462 2213 FAX: +1 202 457 5859 e-Mail: start(at)start.org URL: http://www.start.org/

holding an official function in START

Objectives of START:

START is the global change SysTem for Analysis, Research and Training. They assist developing countries in building the expertise and knowledge needed to explore the drivers of and solutions to global and regional environmental change.

Their goal is to reduce vulnerability through informed decision-making. Climate change, land and ecosystem degradation and biodiversity loss are all drivers of global environmental change. Developing regions are not only particularly vulnerable to adverse impacts of these changes, but have very limited access to scientific and technical knowledge to assist in formulating solutions. This is the gap START seeks to fill.

START's work spans Africa, Asia and the Pacific, where it has a total of six regional centers and three regional nodes.

The START Mission is:

• To develop regional networks of collaborating scientists and institutions that assess the causes and impacts of global environmental change and provide relevant information to policymakers and governments to assist in formulating adaptation strategies,
• To enhance scientific capacity in developing countries by strengthening and connecting existing institutions, training global change scientists, and providing them with better access to data, research, and communication technology skills,
• To secure resources that will augment existing capabilities and actions on global environmental change in developing countries.

The three Programms of START are:

• Capacity Building
• Regional Research
• Vulnerability & Adaption

about START

Last update: 8/24/10

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