- INTRODUCTION
- MAIN GOALS
- COMUNICATION COMPETENCIES
- PARTNERS - NETWORKS
- ORGANISATION
- PROGRAMMES
- VALUES
- IN BRIEF: GRID-ARENDAL FOCUS 2008 - 2009
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Introduction
Following the recommendations of the 1987 World Commission on Environment and Development, the Government of Norway and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) established an environmental information centre in Arendal, Norway in 1989. As a private foundation under Norwegian legislation, the centre was linked to the world-wide UNEP programme termed Global Resource Information Database, hence the name GRID-Arendal.
Since 1989, GRID-Arendal has been fully dedicated to strengthening UNEP and the UN system in the ield of environmental information. Established as a foundation, GRID-Arendal has proven to be an excellent example of how a non- proit organisation with government backing can effectively utilise its ingenuity, independence and flexibility to serve environmental policy-making and to raise awareness about environmental challenges. GRID-Arendal’s work is carried out on the global, regional, national and local levels.
As agreed with both UNEP and the Norwegian Government, GRID-Arendal focuses its support to UNEP on its three core competences and functions:
1. As UNEP’s centre of expertise on polar, particular Arctic, issues with increased focus on climate change interlinkages and impacts; and on integrated ecosystem management
2. On the marine environment by using the UNEP- Shelf Programme as platform to respond to the increased interests and needs in strengthened marine environmental management of developing countries;
3. On supplying key communication services in visualizing scientiic data and information, outreach and capacity building for assessments.