GRID-Arendal Annual Report 2002

Greeting from UNEP’s Executive Director and Norway’s Minister of the Environment GRID-Arendal Annual Report 2002

It is clear that goals set forth by the implementation plan agreed upon by the World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg in August 2002 require a strong focus on bridging the gap between science, decision- making and implementation. GRID-Arendal is a key center in

Norway sees the outcome of the WSSD Summit in August 2002 in Johannesburg as an important milestone in

achieving global commitment in turning global development into sustainable development for future generations. We now have to prove both nationally and internationally that the action plan agreed upon is more than a document with good intentions. Norway’s ambition is to do our homework in the follow-up to Johannesburg through a national plan of action combined with being a strong international actor in the environment and development area. We would like to see an energetic UN bringing the Johannesburg goals into reality, and in particular we would like to see a strengthened UNEP as the leading force for developing global environmental policy for development. Our support to GRID-Arendal is part of our efforts to strengthen UNEP’s capacity and scientific authority to undertake the challenges of producing and communicating environmental information supporting environmental policies.

strengthening UNEP’s capacity to follow up such commitments. In particular, as UNEP’s Key Polar Center, GRID-Arendal plays a crucial role in supporting UNEP’s capacity needs for providing timely, high-quality environmental information in these fragile regions which play an increasingly important role as part of the global ecosystem. UNEP recognizes that GRID-Arendal, also during 2002, has continued to contribute substantially to the realization of UNEP’s global environmental leadership.

Klaus Töpfer Executive Director UNEP

Børge Brende Minister of the Environment Norway