GRID-Arendal: 30 Years of Making a Difference

For over 30 years GRID-Arendal’s mission has been to raise awareness, create knowledge and inspire to action to make positive changes in dealing with the effects of climate change.

Lets be clear about this – climate change is the greatest challenge that humanity has ever faced. The evidence is overwhelming – our polar ice caps are melting, coral reefs are bleaching and dying and there are more and more damaging droughts, floods and wildfires all attributed to climate change. As a non-profit organisation established by the Norwegian government in 1989, GRID-Arendal collaborates closely with UN Environment, various partners and donors worldwide. GRID-Arendal supports activities covering all areas of the environment across all corners of the globe. Our work is structured into five thematic areas: Polar & Climate, Waste & Marine Litter, Ecosystems & Communities, Environmental Crime, and Transboundary Governance.

Through the transformation of environmental data into credible, science-based information products delivered through innovative communication tools and capacity building services, GRID-Arendal strives to have an impact, whether it’s one child’s choice of drinking straw or an entire country changing its behaviour away from single use plastic. Our projects help people to better understand the value of an intact environment and functioning ecosystems that provide us with the clean air, water and food that we need. Our goal is to help build global environmental awareness, so that the community understands and appreciates the environment upon which it depends.

Peter Harris Managing Director GRID-Arendal