About

GRID-Arendal is a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) collaborating centre located in Arendal, Norway, with out-posted offices in Geneva, Ottawa and Stockholm.

Established in 1989 by the Government of Norway as a Norwegian Foundation, GRID-Arendal’s mission is to provide environmental information, capacity building services, and innovative communication tools, methodologies and products for information management and outreach. 

GRID-Arendal has a diverse team international professionals working in Arendal, Norway and outposted offices in Geneva (Switzerland), Ottawa (Canada) and Stockholm (Sweden). Through our dynamic portfolio of global projects, we partner with various organizations to facilitate free access to and exchange of information in support sound decision making toward a sustainable future.

As UNEP’s Key Polar Centre, we are involved with projects and numerous initiatives in the Polar Regions, and increasingly, we are broadening our focus on sustainable development of the oceans and coasts elsewhere in the world. Our activities are organized into three core programmes: Polar, Marine
and Regional Field. Our work is undertaken in the context of our understanding and experience of a variety of key issues that cut across our three programmes, namely: assessments, capacity building, outreach and facilitation.

The head office of GRID-Arendal is currently located at the UN House by the harbour of Arendal city. Inaugurated in November 2006, the UN House demonstrates our commitment to environmental responsibility through design, material use and operation.

In 2007, the UN House was one of three finalists to be awarded the Glassbjørnen Prize, given by the Norwegian Foundation for Sustainable Consumption and Production (GRIP), in recognition of the most eco-efficient procurement policy practised by a Norwegian organization.

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Strategy

The Environmental Policy of GRID-Arendal

Ourenvironmental policy is based on organization’s “green” values and the commitment to operate in an environmentally responsible and resource-efficient manner.

Weproduce an annual Environmental Action Plan and environmental report as part of national environmental certification process. It participates in UNEP’s Climate Neutral Network.

Ourenvironmental policy focuses on 6 thematic areas (Production, Procurement, Resources, Waste, Travel, and Personnel) which include the following elements: 

1. Production

We:

• prefer electronic means of publication to print wherever it is efficient;
• produceour printed publications using recycling paper and environmentally friendly printing materials, meeting or exceeding UNEP environmental standards for publications.

2. Procurement

We:

• baseour procurement policy on environmental criteria;
• give preference to environmentally responsible suppliers of products and services;
• purchase energy-efficient equipment;
• give priority to products with official environmental labelling;
• prefer local products of equal quality to imported ones;
• buy organic and fair-trade food supplies;
• use recycled paper for printing.

3. Resources

We:

• carry out efficient resource-saving measures;
• promote eco-efficient solutions for its office space, aiming at creation of an exemplary “green building” (the UN-house), which could serve as a demonstration center;
• monitor energy consumption and reduces amount of consumed electricity by: using energy-saving lighting, heating and efficient use of equipment, minimizing its operation in stand-by mode;
• save material resources by reduction of internal printing (particularly in colour), and by use of double-sided printing of documents.

4. Waste

We:

• apply the 3R principle (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) to its daily operational practices;
• separate its waste and encourages its office tenants to separate their waste;
• substitute hazardous compounds with more environmentally friendly ones.

5. Travel

We:

• strive to minimise its environmental footprint in connection with business travel by choosing the most climate neutral means of transportation. Promotes the use of railway and bus by its staff and discourages air travel to Oslo;
• offsetour carbon emissions by applying internal carbon tax on air travel and using it for support of projects aiming at reduction of GHG emissions;
• promote the use of telecommunication (videoconferencing, virtual networking, internet phone, distance learning) as an alternative to personal travel
• encourageour staff to apply the same principles to personal travel and for personal reduction of carbon footprint.

6. Personnel

We:

• regard protection of employees’ health as a priority and an integral part of environmental considerations;
   
• provide employees with attractive and healthy working environment, using ergonomic solutions for working places; plants for cleaning the indoor air and aesthetic appeal;
• promote “sustainability culture”, educates personnel on “green practices” using internal awareness raising, capacity building and training;

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Photo Gallery