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About Björn Alfthan
Björn Alfthan
Senior Expert, Polar and Climate

My main focus at GRID-Arendal is communicating about and advocating for mountain and Arctic climate and environment issues to global, national and local audiences. A lot of my work involves collating different types of environmental information and packaging it into various formats and products that are easily digestible for policy makers and other audiences. Thematically, I focus mostly on biodiversity, waste management and climate change adaptation issues.


I am currently co-leading the development of a Caucasus Environment Outlook, a new environmental assessment for the Caucasus region. I am also developing communications and policy material for Vanishing Treasures, a large UNEP programme focusing on the conservation of key mountain migratory species. Within the Arctic, I co-lead the communication and dissemination work package for ECOTIP, a new Horizon-2020 programme in the Arctic.


For all of my work, I engage closely with partners from around the world, including UNEP (especially its Vienna office), the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Sustainable Caucasus, the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA), Danish Technical University, Good Cause Promotions, and others.


I hold a Bachelors’ degree in Biology from Imperial College London and a Masters’ degree in Biodiversity, Conservation and Management from the University of Oxford. Prior to GRID-Arendal, I worked at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in Rome.


Please explore the various activities pages to find out more my current work and past activities and projects. Don´t hesitate to get in touch with me or my colleagues if you are interested in partnering with us.

Latest publications Björn's involved in

Latest activities Björn's involved in

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