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Nearly two decades of dedicated marine environmental experience
For two decades Kommunenes Internasjonale Miljøorganisasjon (Local Authorities International Environmental Organisation) has worked to protect, preserve and enhance northern Europe’s marine environment. The organisation, which represents coastal communities on marine pollution issues, started life with a membership of just 4 authorities but now represents over 120 municipalities.
The impetus for the establishment of the organisation originated from a need to find enduring solutions to the many pollution related issues which threaten the long-term health of northern Europe’s marine environment. As marine pollution is a complex problem, which does not adhere to national boundaries it was necessary to create an organisation that could be co-ordinated on an international basis. Kommunenes Internasjonale Miljøorganisasjon (KIMO) was founded in Esbjerg, Denmark, in August 1990 to protect, preserve and enhance northern Europe’s oceans.
From this modest start KIMO has grown in size and in terms of its aims and objectives. It now represents over 100 members in Belgium, United Kingdom, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Faeroe Islands, The Netherlands, The Republic of Ireland and the Isle of Man (associate member) representing over 6 million people.
In 2007, KIMO increased its remit to include all the countries around the Baltic Sea in the biggest expansion in its 17 year history. The expansion saw seventeen municipalities from Sweden, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia commit to establish a KIMO International Baltic Forum as part the KIMO Network. The inaugural KIMO Baltic Forum meeting was held in Simrishamn, Denmark in February 2008. A number of officials from St. Petersburg, Russia attended the annual general meeting in October 2008 in Tonder, Denmark.
Learn more...
Read our Vision for the Future statement
About the development of KIMO's policies in the What We Do section
Explore our How We Work section to understand our practical organisation
Visit the Join Us section to register for KIMO membership