GRID-Arendal

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GRID-Arendal: a non-profit environmental knowledge center in Norway

GRID-Arendal is a nonprofit organization that helps people understand the environment. It is based in Arendal, Norway, and works as a partner of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

What it does
- It turns environmental data into clear information for policymakers and the public.
- Its website hosts a collection of environmental graphics, photos, and maps to show trends and patterns in nature.
- The center’s motto is “Environmental Knowledge for Change.”

How it started and what it’s part of
- GRID-Arendal was established in 1989 by the Norwegian government as a non-profit foundation to support the United Nations with environmental information, assessment, capacity-building, and outreach.
- It is part of the GRID network (Global Resource Information Database), created in 1985 as a way to provide useful environmental data and to help developing countries with training and technology transfer in geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing.

A note on its work
- GRID-Arendal has historically highlighted climate risks, including a figure predicting millions of climate refugees by 2010, underscoring the importance of understanding environmental change.

Arctic collaborations
- The organization is an active member of the University of the Arctic (UArctic), a network of more than 200 institutions focused on education and research in the Arctic region.

Where to learn more
- Official site: grida.no
- UNEP GRID-Arendal also connects to its marine program and related environmental resources.