Ingeborg Rønning is a Norwegian environmental advocate with a strong connection to the ocean and nature. She has written a master’s thesis on seabed mining and is currently working on cleanup efforts in the Arctic and community engagement. As a leading member of the One Ocean Youth Panel, she is a prominent voice in the international effort to protect the ocean.
Ingeborg Rønning works at Keep Norway Clean, where she leads projects related to marine litter. The project closest to her heart is the Arctic Clean-Up project, a collaboration with Ocean Conservancy. She has also been a key member of the One Ocean Youth Panel since its inception and is passionate about bringing together young enthusiasts from various fields advocating for environmental protection.
A childhood that shaped commitment
Rønning grew up in an environmentally conscious home where taking the train instead of driving was the natural choice. She spent a lot of time along the coast, and these experiences instilled in her a strong sense of responsibility toward nature.
“When something threatens the environment—whether it’s marine litter or deep sea mining—I can’t just stand by and watch. I have to take action,” says Rønning, who also has a Master thesis on deep sea mining.
Cleanup in the Arctic: Tough job with high risk
"Cleanup operations in the Arctic take place under some of the world’s most challenging conditions. Teams face unpredictable weather, permafrost, remote coastlines, and extremely high logistics costs. In areas like Alaska, crews carry out cleanup work while armed to protect themselves from bears. It can also be lonely, which is why I’m working to build a strong network among various cleanup operations throughout the Arctic," she says.
Why citizen science is important
In addition to the cleanup campaigns themselves, Rønning’s work at Keep Norway Clean also involves collecting data on the waste found during the cleanups. Keep Norway Clean currently has Norway’s largest database of this type of information. The citizen science portal Rydde, which Keep Norway Clean collaborates with, provides us with Norway’s largest dataset on litter.
The most common types of debris include pieces of rope and fishing nets, Styrofoam, and small plastic fragments.
“Citizen science is essential for understanding where waste accumulates and which types are most common. The data helps us identify patterns, pinpoint causes, and hold manufacturers accountable. It also makes us better equipped to prevent problems,” she says.
Litter as a symptom of a larger problem
"Some argue that litter is a minor problem compared to larger global challenges, but to me it shows that we have deeper systemic problems—such as overconsumption, capitalism, and the long-standing view of nature as a suitable dumping ground. Cleanup makes the problem visible and tangible. Large bags of collected plastic make it impossible to ignore. Even more importantly, cleanup brings local communities together. In Norway, community service has always been an important part of the effort to care for the local environment," says Rønning.
She believes that strong community involvement is essential to solving environmental problems.
One Ocean Youth Panel – Goals and Ambitions
As a member of the One Ocean Youth Panel, Rønning believes that young people must be given a stronger and more influential role in environmental decision-making.
"The panel’s original goal was to be invited to the table where decisions about the ocean are made, but they quickly realized that simply being present wasn’t enough. If we’re only asked to speak up after the decisions have been made, it’s too late. We don’t want to be a checkbox that says ‘youth were present.’ We need to help shape the agenda,” says Rønning.
“Our goal is to develop into an independent entity that isn’t solely tied to Bergen or One Ocean Week. We want to contribute to international decision-making, use the platform to amplify others’ voices, and create real influence,” says Rønning.
In the long term, she hopes that the One Ocean Youth Panel can evolve into something akin to a high-level advisory body, but one led by young people from diverse backgrounds with a wide range of expertise.
