Annual Report 2007

Message from the Managing Director

In its 19th year of operation, UNEP/GRID-Arendal continued to develop and profile its core competencies in environmental information management and dissemination on polar, marine and global issues.

cessful environmental agreements effectively dealt with a global challenge.

GRID-Arendal, as the UNEP Key Polar Centre, produced Global Outlook for Ice and Snow in 2007, which raised world-wide attention about the important relation- ship between ice and snow and global climate change. Global Outlook for Ice and Snow was launched on World Environment Day on 5 June 2007, hosted in Tromsø, Norway. This publication not only became one of UNEP’s best-selling products in 2007, but is also seen as a great example of collaboration, both external and internal. The International Polar Year (IPY) commenced in 2007 and GRID-Arendal’s Polar Programme used this unique opportunity to spearhead the development of polar ini- tiatives in support of the IPY.

Balkan Vital Graphics highlights environmental chal- lenges and economic opportunities in the Balkans, and provides glimpses into an uncertain future addressing some of the key environmental concerns for the pan- European region. Tourism in the Polar Regions: The Sustainability Challenge describes tourism’s multiple roles and im- pacts in both the Arctic and Antarctica. African Environment Outlook 2 , a comprehensive as- sessment of the environmental state and trends, and the implications of for human well-being and development. Environment and Security – Transforming Risks into Cooperation: The Case of Eastern Europe , an assessment report that examines the links between environment and security in three East European coun- tries (Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine). State of the Environment Report for Abu Dhabi , a comprehensive assessment and outlook on the state of Abu Dhabi’s environment.

UNEP/GRID-Arendal produced/co-produced other no- table publications in 2007, including:

The Last Stand of the Orangutan , a Rapid Re- sponse Report, which was launched at the UNEP Gov- erning Council in Nairobi in DATE and resulted in global attention on the severe species and rainforest loss in Southern Asia.

Vital Ozone Graphics – A Resource Kit for Jour- nalists illustrates the story of how one of the most suc-