Norway and Switzerland have many things in common, both in terms of energy resources and in their ‘outlier position’ vis-a-vis the European Union. However, there are also key differences in the countries’ energy politics and in their dealings with the EU.

The Paris Agreement pledge to limit the increase of the global average temperature to 1.5 °C seems more unrealistic than ever. However, the picture differs in different parts of the world – and yes, there are some grounds for optimism.

What is the world’s largest producer of mercury emissions doing to reduce its global mercury footprint? Experts from FNI and other institutions gathered at Peking University 11 October to take stock of the situation.

A new international fisheries agreement was signed 3 October. With it, the world’s biggest economies have agreed not to initiate commercial fishing in the central Arctic Ocean. At least, not yet.

Discussions five years ago with Davor Vidas, FNI Law of the sea expert, inspired the renowned photographer and filmmaker Armin Linke to turn ocean science into art. The result? The exhibition 'Prospecting Ocean', held in Venice from 23 May until 30 September.

Iceberg harvesting, whaling and polar bear protection. These issues – and many more - were on the agenda when the 11th Polar Law Symposium took place in Tromsø, Norway, in October.

A high-level delegation from Shanghai Municipality recently visited FNI to be briefed on the institute’s research and to further strengthen research collaboration between Norway and China.

FNI Research Professor Davor Vidas chaired the Committee on International Law and Sea Level Rise which presented its final report and proposals for two resolutions at the 78th Biennial Conference of the International Law Association (ILA) held in Sydney, Australia, 19-24 August 2018

Biodiversity is not high enough on countries’ political agendas to affect the main drivers of biodiversity loss. Therefore major implementation gaps remain in meeting the global targets for biodiversity that have been agreed internationally for 2020.

Once again, the Fridtjof Nansen Institute (FNI) has been voted ‘best European think tank’ in the field of energy and environment.

For the third consecutive year, FNI has been nominated for the Prospect Think Tank Awards as best European think tank in the energy and environment category. FNI has already won the price once, in 2017.

Kristin Rosendal will act as Director from 1 August to 31 December 2018, while FNI Director Geir Hønneland takes a partial leave of absence to assume the position as Executive Chairman of the Norwegian Non-Fiction Writers and Translators Association (NFFO).

Overall, FNI has a strong tradition in terms of research quality and output, a high reputation internationally, and produces research of considerable societal relevance.

How environmental issues are treated in the wind power licensing process was one of the topics at the NVE's yearly wind power seminar.

23–25 May a large group of Chinese Arctic researchers met with counterparts from the Nordic countries.

May 22nd is the International Day for Biological Diversity, and this year the day marks the 25th anniversary of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

A newly published book, Governing Climate Change: Polycentricity in Action?, assesses how a more dispersed pattern of governing is influencing climate change policies.

What is the state of Arctic growth? Is economic development compatible with environmental protection? Why is China interested in the region? And what about other actors?

FNI Director Geir Hønneland and FNI researchers Gørild Heggelund and Arild Moe were recently in China as members of a delegation led by the Norwegian Minister of Research and Higher Education.

As part of an expert panel of three, FNI Senior Policy Analyst Christian Prip has spent the past year conducting a review of the International Whaling Commission. The final report is now completed and made available for the public.