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Celebrating its 25th year, GRID-Arendal has come of age
as one of UNEP’s most valued collaborating centres and
a trusted partner in environmental projects spanning
the globe. GRID-Arendal is a centre of excellence for
scientific analysis in a number of areas, including
environmental assessments, capacity-building, outreach
and communication. Oceans and polar regions feature
prominently in GRID-Arendal’s work. The centre
specializes in the dissemination of environmental
knowledge to inform decision-making and policy
formulation. In 2014, GRID-Arendal and UNEP worked
together to publish a rapid response assessment of the
environmental crime crisis, which was launched at
the first session of the United Nations Environment
Assembly (UNEA) in June. The publication reached
global audience through 30 press releases and articles,
published in 112 countries.
A key asset of GRID-Arendal is its ability to bring
together the latest scientific findings and strong peer-
review processes to enable UNEP to take issues forward
to decision-makers, thus reconnecting science to policy.
Our joint purpose is to shorten the distance between the
emergence of new science findings and relevant policy
actions. We seek to influence thinking and action at the
Achim Steiner
“I am confident that the next chapter
of the journey for GRID-Arendal will
be as ground-breaking and influential
as it has been in its first 25 years.”
1.
Foreword
level of the global community on issues that require
collective understanding and responsibility. I believe
that change in the planet’s environmental patterns will
increasingly dictate the need for us to act in unison and to
recognize that many problems cannot be solved through
individual action at the national or local level alone.
In 2014, UNEP and GRID-Arendal signed a new
framework agreement that strengthens our ongoing
collaboration. The agreement signifies a continuation
into the years ahead of the fruitful cooperation and
partnership that we have so far enjoyed. I am confident
that the next chapter of the journey for GRID-Arendal
will be as ground-breaking and influential as it has been
in its first 25 years. UNEP staff and I look forward to
working with our colleagues in GRID-Arendal to make a
difference to the global environment..
Achim Steiner
UN Under-Secretary-General, and
Executive Director, UNEP