Launched in 2011, the Arctic NGO Forum is a new initiative that aims to provide a consistent way for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) concerned with Arctic environmental issues to get together, exchange ideas and perspectives and provide advice to the global Arctic community. The creation of this platform will allow NGOs the possibility to strengthen their positions and gain access to policy makers.

The Forum will meet twice a year and three larger workshops will be organized related to the state of the Arctic environment with wider NGO and stakeholder participation.

The Forum is coordinated jointly by GRID-Arendal and ECORYS. The European Commission Directorate General for the Environment has provided initial funding for a period of three years in order to establish the Forum and to attract wider funding support.